Chandigarh, July 28 -- In the last three to four years, a worrying trend has been seen in the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research with regard to liver failure patients. Most acute liver failure patients admitted in the Liver ICU in the last few years have been due to hepatitis A, which is a cause of concern, said Dr Madhumita Premkumar, additional professor in the hepatology department. "A new observation over the last few years is the increase in numbers and severity of hepatitis A virus infection," added Dr Madhumita. The details were shared on the eve of World Hepatitis Day, observed on July 28, to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, a group of diseases that can severely damage the liver. Yearly, PGIMER receives 800 to 1000 patients with chronic viral hepatitis (HBV and HCV) at its outpatient liver clinic. Hepatitis refers to an inflammation of the liver that is a vital organ, performing many essential functions, including filtering toxins, producing proteins, and aiding digestion. When the liver is damaged by hepatitis, these functions are compromised, affecting overall health and well-being of a person. Viral hepatitis is caused by viruses predominantly hepatitis A, B, C, and E....