Hepatitis B Essay

669 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Hepatitis

1 Hepatitis B
1.1 Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B (HBV) is a blood-borne viral liver infection with various routs of transmission. It is one of the most common and serious liver diseases in the world and a leading cause of death worldwide. If the infection becomes chronic the infection can lead to liver failure, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
The HBV virus is transmitted through contact with contaminated blood or other body fluids such as serum, semen and salvia. The condition following the infection can either be classified as acute or chronic HBV.
Acute and Chronic HBV infection
Acute HBV infection is the most common type of infection in low endemic countries. The incubation period, from transmission to clearness, ranges from 40-180 days. The infection is either symptomatic or asymptomatic/ fulminant hepatitis. Children under the age of 5 years rarely experience symptomatic infection (10%), where’s about 30-40% infected adults and children above age 5 experience a symptomatic infection with yellowing of skin and teeth, vomiting, fatigue, laxity and abdominal pain [1].
HBV infection is detected by levels of HbsAg or HBV-DNA in the infected person’s body. 90% of those infected above age 5 recover within 6 months and are immune and completely free of HBV for the rest of their life [1].

Figure 2: A representation of the clinical spectrum and potential outcomes to expect after hepatitis B virus infection. (2b)*incidence per 100 person years.
Chronic HBV is developed when HBV infection dose not result in immunization and is defined as existence of HbsAG in the body for more than six months [1]. Progression from acute HBV to chronic HBV is highly influenced by the age at infection and is a common state for those infected at...

... middle of paper ...

...or children. The specific way of transmission is difficult to identify. Most common assumptions have been that transmission has occurred through skin lesions or by sharing blood contaminated objects. Infected saliva is another source of infection especially as a non-parental infection. The virus has the ability to enter a healthy body as an airborne disease by coughing and sneezing, from mouth-to-mouth kissing, biting or by sharing chewed toys and candies [2, airborn]

REFRENSES
1a - Epidemiology of acute and chronic hepatitis B virus infection in Norway, 1992-2009 - Gražina Rimšelienė1,2*, Øivind Nilsen2, Hilde Kløvstad2, Hans Blystad2 and Preben Aavitsland2
2b - http://www.aphc.info/pdf/archives/2004/07PHC_Book_Chapter15.pdf natural history of hepatitis B and profnostic factors of Disease Progression. Giovanna Fattovich, Irene Zagni, Chiara Scattolini. Paris 2004

Show More
Related

  • Herpes-simplex: Type 2

    490 Words  | 1 Pages

    and ears, and in the mouth and pharynx. The causative virus has been shown to be

    Read More

  • Understanding Bloodborne Pathogens

    885 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Hepatitis B virus is a disease that affects the liver and results in swelling and loss of normal function in the liver. It is estimated that 350 million people are infected with Hepatitis B worldwide, with 50 million new cases diagnosed every year.(1) In the Unit...

    Read More

  • Long Term Acute Care Hospital

    649 Words  | 2 Pages

    Clinical Infectious Diseases, 49(3), 438-443. Doi:10.1086/600391. See full address and map. Medicare.gov/Hospital Compare - The Official U.S. Government Site for Medicare (n.d).

    Read More

  • Hepatitis B Case Study

    1386 Words  | 3 Pages

    There is 1.4 million people infected with CHB in United States (CDC, 2017). Even though the incidence of CHB has decreased in the U.S. two ethnic groups with highest prevalence of CYB in U.S. are Asian with 1 in 12 Asian Americans have CHB, and 1in 10 African-born in U.S. has CHB (HepBMD, 2017). Approximately 90% of infants that get HBV becomes chronically infected and 1 out of 4 dies (CDC, 2017). A person with CHB is one hundred times more likely to develop liver cancer. An estimated 686,000 people die every year worldwide for complications of HBV 2,000 people in U.S. die yearly from HBV related liver

    Read More

  • American Revolution Smallpox

    1258 Words  | 3 Pages

    It began with infection mainly in the blood vessels of the human skin and mouth, resulting in different kinds of symptoms that turn into serious stages. It was spread by physical contact with human skin and mostly affected children and adults. This disease was so outrageous that it led to a vast number of deaths in New England colonies. Also, smallpox virus is transmitted through airborne infection from the oral, nasal mucus of the infected person. But mostly was spread from close contact or contaminated material of the infected person.

    Read More

  • hepatitis

    717 Words  | 2 Pages

    HAV is known to be an infectious disease that usually occurs in children and young adults .The disease is usually transmitted from person to person through contaminated food, liquids or oral fecal route. An example would be when someone is carrying the virus and doesn’t wash their hands after using the restroom and then puts food in their mouth. HAV is most common in developing countries because of the living conditions and inadequate water, poor sewage facilities and sanitary conditions. The highest HAV levels in the world are from India,” Earlier reports suggest that India is hyperendemic for HAV infection2,4-6 with very high infection rates,” (Sowmyanarayanan). Most HAV are without severe complications, “Virus HAV infection rarely causes fulminant hepatic failure in people…,” (Vento,p.1) . The symptoms for HAV are high fever, nausea, vomiting and jaundice...

    Read More

  • Hepatitis B Essay

    866 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hepatitis B is a DNA viral infection that causes damage and inflammation to the liver. It was first discovered in 1965 by Dr. Baruch Blumberg. The HBV virus is very contagious and is even thought to be the most serious form of viral hepatitis and the most common viral infection on Earth. “HBV is 100 times more infectious than HIV.” (Green, 2002, pg. 7) The virus can survive for about one week outside the body on a dry surface. According to Green (2002, pg. 7), “One in twenty Americans has been infected with the virus at some point in their lives.” Between the ages of 15-39 is when 75% of new HBV infections occur, according to Green (2002, pg.8).

    Read More

  • hepatitis C

    1146 Words  | 3 Pages

    This article aimed to evaluate sofosbuvir and GS-0938 antiviral activity and safety either in combined usage of the drugs or alone. Five groups of HCV genotype 1 patients underwent randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study from July 2010 to February 2011. The first two cohorts were subjected to treatment as such 14 days of GS-0938 and seven days of GS-0938 continued by seven days of combined GS-0938 and sofosbuvir treatment. The third and fourth group received seven days of sofosbuvir followed by combined sofo...

    Read More

  • Blood Borne Pathogens and Disease Transmission

    989 Words  | 2 Pages

    Pathogens are a type of microorganism that spreads viral and bacterial diseases. These diseases when present in human blood and body fluids are known as blood borne pathogens, and can spread from one person to another. (Worcester polytechnic institute) The most serious types of blood borne diseases are the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), which can cause liver damage; and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), which is responsible for causing AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). The blood borne pathogens can be spread when the blood or body fluids (semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, and amniotic fluid) of an infected individual comes into contact with mucous membranes or an open sore or cut on the skin of another person. Mucus membranes are located in the eyes, nose, mouth, and other areas as well. ("Bloodborne pathogens: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia") Two of the most common ways that pathogens are transmitted is through the exchange of fluids during sexual intercourse or by sharing infected IV needles. (Worcester polytechnic institute)

    Read More

  • Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2: A Case Study

    1651 Words  | 4 Pages

    However, during pregnancy, if a woman has a primary HSV-2 infection during her first trimester this can lead to a miscarriage of the fetus. If the primary infection occurs near the end of the pregnancy, it can cause neonatal infection, which can be fatal to the fetus. In addition, if the mother is contagious at the time of delivery, in other words, if the body is shedding the active virus, HSV-2 can also be transmitted to the newborn. If HSV-2 is transmitted to the newborn at the time of delivery it can cause skin, eye, and mouth infections that are characterized by sores that are already developed on the infant at the time of delivery or can develop

    Read More

  • Hepatitis A Essay

    820 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hepatitis A is a usually short acting virus that occurs in humans and monkeys. It is caused by the Hepatovirus and the species is Hepatitis A Virus. There are two major ways in which Hepatitis A can be transmitted. One way is from person to person. This transmission occurs when the fecal matter of an infected person gets ingested by another person. Other ways Hepatitis A can be transmitted from person to person are through direct contact with an infected person, such as sexual contact, and sharing of needles for intravenous drug use. Hepatitis A can also be transmitted through coming in contact with contaminated food or water. Also foods that are uncooked or undercooked and have been contaminated with Hepatitis A can transmit the virus. (Bennett,

    Read More

  • Hepatitis A Essay

    645 Words  | 2 Pages

    The incubation period for this virus is 10 to 50 days, depending on the amount of the contaminated source that was ingested. About 22,700 cases of Hepatitis A are reported annually. All people who ingest the virus are susceptible to illness, especially immune compromised individuals such as the elderly and children. Although, this virus is most common in adults. The individuals that ingested the contaminated product remain contagious 10 days following initial infection, most of the time prior to symptoms (1).

    Read More

  • Hepatic Cirrhosis

    1396 Words  | 3 Pages

    Blackwell, Wiley. "Alcoholic Cirrhosis Patients Had High Prevalence of Complications at Diagnosis." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily LLC, Apr. 27,2010. Web. 4 Nov 2011. .

    Read More

  • To vaccinate, or not to vaccinate?

    1456 Words  | 3 Pages

    Viruses can be transmitted in many ways. Being in contact with an infected person will most likely transfer the virus. One can also obtain the virus through swallowing, inhaling, and unsafe sex. Poor hygiene and eating habits usually increase the risk of catching a viral infection. Contracting a viral infection is followed by adverse s...

    Read More

  • Influenza Virus: A Case Study

    1372 Words  | 3 Pages

    The study was conducted to consider the outpatient burden. Most studies are done to provide results for hospitalizations and deaths. So, Matias & et al used a dummy variable approach to get the best model fit for each individual pathogen to include H1N1, H3N2, and Influenza B virus. Multiple regression linear models were used to compute the burden of mild outcomes due to these viruses. Results between 2001 and 2009 revealed 14.5 million visits to the physician, from individuals over 65 years of age due to Influenza. 1.7% were because of H1N1, 3.9% because of H3N2, and 4.1 % attributed to Influenza B. As have been noted, the study showed clear data on physicians visits due to the flu, which can be significantly reduced by following governmental recommendations, to get an Influenza vaccine prior to Influenza

    Read More

More about Hepatitis B Essay

Open Document