Hepatitis is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver, which are of four types
- Hepatitis Virus A (HAV)
- Hepatitis Virus B (HBV)
- Hepatitis Virus C (HCV)
- Hepatitis Virus D (HDV)
- Hepatitis Virus E (HEV)
Hepatitis Virus B (HBV) is a dsDNA enveloped, replicates using reverse transcriptase and is a member f the hepadnavirus family.
Hepatitis B or Hepatitis virus B has an incubation period of 120 days and can replicate to become Hepatitis Virus D (HDV)
Transmission of Hepatitis
Hepatitis B can be transmitted through infected blood or body fluids like saliva or Semen.
Hepatitis B can also be contacted by sharing sharp object which has cause skin puncture on infected person
Hepatitis B can be transmitted through placenta or mucosal contact
NB: Hepatitis B isn’t contacted through Hugging and hand holding
Who are at the risk of Hepatitis B?
1. Those that take intravenous drugs
2. Those that have sex with infected individual
3. Health care workers needle injured treating infected person.
Symptoms of Hepatitis B
- Infected person will have cirrhosis or liver failure
- Infected person will have liver cancer
- It will lead to death at chronic level
WHO data on Hepatitis B
HBV have a high mortality rate in infected children 90% compared to infected adults 10% which are chronic carriers
Treatment or Management of Hepatitis B
Vaccination for children:
highly recommended for children as part of standard vaccinations (1 dose at birth and 18months old)
Vaccination for Adults:
All health care workers that are occupational expose to blood or other infectious materials are to be vaccinated
All adults at greater risk ( those that uses intravenous drugs and those with multiple sex partners)
There is no cure for HBV but can be maintained and sustained
Written by Gemmy💎 from Babcock University