World Hepatitis Day! |

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated July 28, 2013 as World Hepatitis Day. The date July 28 was chosen in honour of the birthday of Nobel Laureate Professor Baruch Samuel Blumberg, discoverer of the hepatitis B virus.

This year's World Hepatitis Day campaign mantra is;

"This is hepatitis. Know it. Confront it."

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and can be caused by toxins, certain drugs, some diseases, heavy alcohol use and bacterial and viral infections. Most cases of hepatitis are caused by viruses. Viral hepatitis can result from the following hepatitis viruses; A, B, C, D, E or G.

Some people with viral hepatitis do not have any symptoms, others may experience loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, dark-colored urine and pale bowel movements, stomach pain and yellowing of skin and eyes.

To learn more about Hepatitis check out the following titles at the Toronto Public Library: