Vaccination against hepatitis B is available free of charge in the public health network and is one of the most effective forms of prevention. Image Bank Viral hepatitis is an infection that affects the liver and often goes unnoticed for years. Silent in most cases, hepatitis B and C are among the main causes of liver cancer in the world (WHO), and it is precisely this silence that makes them so dangerous. In Brazil, millions of people live with hepatitis B or C without knowing it. Late diagnosis is one of the biggest challenges in controlling the disease and, when the infection is not treated, the consequences can be serious and irreversible. When the disease speaks Most of the time, hepatitis B and C do not present symptoms in the early stages. When signs do appear, they are often nonspecific and easily confused with other conditions. Symptoms are nonspecific: abdominal pain, nausea and malaise. Some patients may develop jaundice and yellowish skin. These symptoms take patients to the emergency room and, during investigation tests, a diagnosis is reached. Other signs that may appear include intense tiredness, fever, dizziness and nausea. Any of these persistent symptoms warrant medical evaluation, especially in people who have never been tested for hepatitis. The path to liver cancer When left untreated, hepatitis B and C can develop into serious conditions. The specialist is direct: "Hepatitis can progress, especially when untreated, to hepatocellular carcinoma, cancer that started in the liver." Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of primary liver cancer and is often associated with viral hepatitis (WHO). Progression is usually slow, which reinforces the importance of early diagnosis, before the liver accumulates irreversible damage. Untreated hepatitis B and C can progress to hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of primary liver cancer. Image Bank How to prevent yourself The good news is that there are effective forms of prevention. For hepatitis B, the vaccine is the main one and is available free of charge in the public health network for all age groups. But the specialist makes an important warning for those who have already been vaccinated: "Anyone who has been vaccinated needs to know whether the vaccine was effective, whether the body produced protective cells for hepatitis B, measuring an antibody in the blood." For hepatitis C, there is no vaccine available yet. Therefore, the doctor recommends: "For hepatitis C, you have to take tests to find out if you have been infected." In addition to vaccination and testing, other measures are essential. The specialist reinforces: "Prevention not only for hepatitis B and C, but for all types of sexually transmitted diseases is to use condoms. Another important point is not sharing needles." Who should take the test The Ministry of Health recommends testing for hepatitis B and C as part of adult health monitoring, especially for people who have never been tested, pregnant women, people with a history of blood transfusion before 1993 and those who shared sharp objects (Ministry of Health). The tests are simple, quick and available free of charge at SUS health units. In Zona da Mata Mineira, the nearest health post can be the starting point. Tests for hepatitis B and C are simple, quick and available free of charge at SUS health units. Image Bank Early diagnosis saves lives Treating hepatitis B and C in the early stages prevents progression to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Today, hepatitis C can be cured with highly effective drug treatment (Ministry of Health). Hepatitis B, although there is no definitive cure, can be controlled with adequate medical monitoring, preserving liver function for many years. Don't wait for symptoms to appear. Talk to your doctor, take tests and, if you have not yet been vaccinated against hepatitis B, look for the nearest health unit. ? ? This article is informative and is part of the Viva Bem project, by G1 Zona da Mata. It does not replace medical evaluation, diagnosis or treatment. Technical Responsible: Olamir Rossini Junior – CRM-MG 29797S Doctor Interviewed: Hugo Mandarino – CRM-MG 101899