Breaking the Silence on Hepatitis: Early Detection, Timely Treatment and Holistic Care are Essential to Protect Liver Health

Viral hepatitis continues to be one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease and liver cancer globally, yet millions remain unaware they are infected until the disease has progressed significantly. On World Hepatitis Day, Dr. Kushal Banerjee, Senior Consultant Homeopath and Director of Clinical Practice at Dr. Kalyan Banerjee Clinic, is calling for greater awareness around early screening, timely diagnosis, preventive measures and an understanding of alternative medicine options for liver health.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 304 million people worldwide were living with chronic hepatitis B or C in 2022, while 1.3 million people die every year due to hepatitis-related illnesses, making it one of the leading infectious causes of death globally. This may also indicate the need to understand alternatives to conventional measures. Despite the availability of effective vaccines for hepatitis A and B and curative treatment for hepatitis C, millions remain undiagnosed or untreated. In India, the burden is equally significant, with an estimated 40 million people living with chronic hepatitis B and around 6–12 million with hepatitis C, making awareness, early detection and timely intervention critical.

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) theme for World Hepatitis Day, “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” calls for breaking down the barriers that prevent people from accessing testing, vaccination, treatment and quality care. It also emphasises tackling stigma and ensuring that more people are diagnosed before irreversible liver damage occurs.

“One of the greatest challenges with hepatitis is that it often progresses silently, with many individuals remaining undiagnosed until significant liver damage has already occurred. Early screening, timely diagnosis and evidence-based medical treatment remain the cornerstone of managing viral and other forms of hepatitis and preventing serious complications. Early detection results in the avoidance of hepatoxic drug consumption which can be catastrophic for these patients” says Dr. Kushal Banerjee, Senior Consultant Homeopath, Dr. Kalyan Banerjee Clinic.

Dr. Banerjee adds, “At our Clinic, we manage patients across a broad spectrum of liver disorders, ranging from acute viral hepatitis and drug-induced liver injury to fatty liver disease, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and other complex liver conditions. Homeopathic treatment is protocol based and specific to the conditions identified with the aim of supporting overall health, symptom management and recovery where appropriate.

He further highlights that successful liver care extends beyond medication. Individualised dietary counselling and healthy lifestyle modifications are vital, especially for people with fatty liver disease, alcohol-related liver disease and chronic liver disorders. Avoiding alcohol where advised, maintaining a healthy weight, consuming a balanced diet, exercising regularly and managing stress can significantly contribute to better liver health. The avoidance of common conventional medicines which are toxic for the liver in these patients is critical to lowering morbidity and mortality.

Dr. Kalyan Banerjee’s Clinic also encourages regular but not excessive liver function assessments, particularly for individuals with diabetes, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, chronic viral hepatitis, a family history of liver disease or other high-risk factors.

This World Hepatitis Day serves as a reminder that prevention, awareness, early diagnosis, timely medical treatment and patient-centred holistic care together offer the best opportunity to protect liver health, reduce complications and improve quality of life for people living with liver disease.