Hepatitis is a disease which is caused by an injury to the liver causing inflammation that can be short-term or long lasting (Balistreri). There are five forms of viral Hepatitis known as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, and Hepatitis E. Each form of Hepatitis is very unique to the other and it is very important to understand the causes and effects of each one.
Hepatitis A is the first viral form of Hepatitis which is common amongst poverty stricken countries due to the poor sanitary conditions (Balistreri). Hepatitis A is most commonly transferred through drinking water and food when they have been infected with fecal matter. Hepatitis A may also be transferred when a person has failed to wash their hands after going to the restroom in which case they had fecal matter on their person and then come into contact with another person infecting them.
Most people may not know they are infected with Hepatitis A because symptoms may not be immediate. People who do have symptoms can experience them for one week or several months. Elder people with Hepatitis tend to have additional and longer lasting symptoms than younger people. Symptoms for Hepatitis include the following: “jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, and dark urine” these symptoms range from moderate to being very severe (Viral Hepatitis). When you begin to experience such symptoms it is very important to schedule a blood test with a doctor to get a diagnostic. This blood test will either identify hepatitis A antibodies or will come back negative. When diagnosed doctors will be able to help treat you and kick the virus out of your system.
Hepatitis A can be treated/ prevented with a protein call gamma ...
... middle of paper ...
... in the United States. There are no medications or vaccines for this disease. Doctors recommend bed rest and many fluids and avoid anything that could damage the liver including over-the-counter prescriptions. Since no vaccines are available it is important to avoid dirty water the most common way to transfer hepatitis E.
Since there are many types of the hepatitis virus it is very important to be educated and well aware of not only this disease but ever disease. There are many large corporations such as the NIAID researching hepatitis and how to make this world safer from it. There is still much to be learned about hepatitis that is why it is very important to stay educated. All around hepatitis is preventable if we take action and live life by a few basic principles, we would be able to slow the transmission rate and decrease the amount of infected individuals.
“Improved sanitation, food safety and immunization are the most effective ways to combat hepatitis A.” (World Health Organization, 2017) Good hand hygiene is essential in preventing the spread of Hepatitis A. Proper sewage disposal systems are also important in prevention of Hepatitis A within communities. If a person is traveling to an area where hepatitis A is prevalent, they should avoid ingesting water and uncooked fruits and vegetables. Another important way to prevent Hepatitis A is immunization. A vaccine for Hepatitis A has been available in the US since 1996. Commonly children will become immunized between the age of 12 to 23 months, however an adult can also be vaccinated at any time. Traveling out of the country, using illegal drugs, homosexual men, and anyone who comes in contact with an infected person or animal are recommended to be immunized. The final way Hepatitis A can be prevented is with immune globulin. Blood from an already immune person will be injected into another person giving the recipient protective antibodies. Immune globulin will protect a person from exposure to Hepatitis A for 2 weeks. (Center for Disease Control,
The common change is liver cell necrosis. It may be the form of an acute hepatitis or viral or alcoholic type. Alternatively there may be continuous liver cell damage as in metabolic disorders. When necrosis is massive as in severe viral or drug induced hepatitis, the areas of surviving parenchyma are assumed to undergo regeneration but fail to reproduce normal lobular or acinar architecture. The compressed necrotic zones then form the basis of the fibrous septa of the cirrhotic liver.
Hepatitis B virus infection is caused by a DNA virus belonging to the hepadnaviridae family of viruses. Approximately 2.2 million people in the United States of America are infected with Hepatitis B virus. Many of these patients, though they appear healthy, continue to spread the virus to others. Hepatitis B virus infection can be transmitted in the following ways: contact with contaminated blood (shared needles), sexual contact, and from mother to child. Unlike Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B is not spread through food, water, or causal contact. 95% of adults who get Hepatitis B can clear the virus through their system. However the remainder of the adults go on to develop chronic hepatitis B infection. This can
The purpose of epidemiology is to better understand the burden and causes of health issues in humans. This helps decrease the risk of disease and improve health. Infectious diseases are caused by micro-organisms, transmitted to humans by humans, animals, or environment. Infectious disease usually follow a recognizable pattern. In this paper Hepatitis B also known as serum hepatitis will be discussed. Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can cause acute or chronic disease. Hepatitis B is a communicable disease. This paper will describe Hepatitis B, the demographic of interest, the determinants of health, the epidemiologic triangle, environmental factors, the role of community health nurse, and a national agency that addresses Hepatitis B.
There are some simple blood tests (secondary prevention) such as Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, and (HBSAG), and Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (HBSAB) to find out if you have been infected. There is a safe and effective vaccine such as vaccine interferon alpha, recommended for newborns, infants, and teens, provides immunity for at least five years. In addition to vaccination (primary prevention), there are other simple ways to stop the spread of Hepatitis B. These are a few examples: first avoid direct contact with blood and bodily fluids, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after any potential exposure to blood. You also need to discard soiled items carefully into bags, avoid sharing items such as razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and earrings or body rings. In my opinion the most important prevention is to practice safe sex, and making sure new or sterile...
Hepatitis A virus, until 1 week after onset of illness or as directed by the health department when passive immunoprophylaxis (currently, immune serum globulin) has been administered to appropriate children and staff and a licensed physician states in writing the child may
Hepatitis B is a bacterial infection that displays symptoms like a visible rash on the surface of the skin, headache, abdominal pain, fatigue, anorexia, chills, severe liver damage, and can even lead to death. It can be contracted through close contact, especially sexual contact, through lesions on the skin from an infected person (Leu). Another required vaccination is Tdap. “It usually enters the body through the mouth and begins its replication in the throat and gastrointestinal tract. It moves to the bloodstream and continues to replicate and destroy motor neurons in the central nervous system. These are the motor neurons responsible for control of the muscles for swallowing, circulation, respiration and movement of the trunk, arms and legs” (Furnari). The last required vaccination is Hib. Symptoms for Hib include asthma, upper respiratory tract infections, lung disease, recurrent bronchitis, and death. Each of these vaccinations are required by schools to ensure the health of their
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).
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)
“Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver.”("What Is Hepatitis?") There are three main types of hepatitis. These include hepatitis A, B, and C. These three types of hepatitis cause the most concern to medical staff due to their ability to spread and cause outbreaks. “Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis A virus.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) It can range from acute to chronic. An individual can become infected with hepatitis A if they eat or drink food or water that has been contaminated with the virus. Some common “sources of vitamin A include shellfish, fruits, vegetables, ice and water”. (U.S. National Library of Medicine. “Hepatitis A.”) Hepatitis B is a serious, endemic, worldwide disease that can occur at any age. (Wilkins 45) The hepatitis B virus causes hepatitis B infection. Hepatitis B is transmitted though contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person. (U.S. National Library of Medicine. “Hepatitis B.”) Hepatitis C...
An estimated 242,251 Canadians, and 150 million people worldwide are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus, and more than 350 000 people die every year from hepatitis C-related liver diseases.1 Hepatitis C can lead to other serious diseases, such as liver failure, death, etc. But without any vaccines available to prevent the contraction of the disease, it may be hard to avoid. Due to disease generally being asymptomatic many people are unaware that they have it, further spreading the disease because of a lack of prevention mechanisms. Hepatitis C when developed chronically can cause serious affects on the liver, which may even lead to death. With hepatitis C being such a serious disease, it is important that more people be tested for it so they can start treatment in the early stages of the disease, as well as be aware and informed, before it becomes a chronic infection leading to serious complications.
There is a disease spreading out in the world called Hepatitis C. It affects the liver and may cause the liver to fail. This disease is caused by a virus called Hepatitis C virus which is also known as HCV. About 32,000 people are affected with this disease per year only in the United States area. Some It’s a disease with many symptoms and many causes. of these symptoms are easy bruising, upset stomach and fever. These are just some of the many symptoms that come from the virus. Hepatitis Cs nature of the causative agent is determined by many things. The biological data of this disease is filled so much information. It is estimated that over 180 million people have gotten Hepatitis C and it is growing.
Hepatitis B, an infectious disease caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV, a DNA virus), was formerly called serum hepatitis, inoculation hepatitis and post-transfusion hepatitis. Infection with HBV may result in acute, fulminant or chronic hepatitis, sometimes even resulting in a chronic asymptomatic carrier state, apart from hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis (Davis 179). The disease is transmitted when an individual comes in contact with infected blood or objects. It may also be transferred from an infected mother to her infant either during or after birth (Zuckerman et al. 211). Transmission may also occur by accidental inoculation from infected needles and hospital equipment, intravenous drug abuse, body piercing, tattooing, and mouth-mouth kissing (Zuckerman et al. 210). The risk of Hepatitis B is particularly high in individuals with multiple sex partners, and in homosexuals. The HBV virus occurs in morphologically different forms in the serum of infected individuals. HBV infection has an incubation period of about 75 days. Systemic symptoms of the disease include fatigue, fever, dyspepsia, arthralgia, malaise, and rash, while local symptoms include hepatomegaly, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stools (Davis 179; Zuckerman et al. 210).
Infection control is very important in the health care profession. Health care professionals, who do not practice proper infection control, allow themselves to become susceptible to a number of infections. Among the most dreaded of these infections are: hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Another infection which has more recently increased in prevalence is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These infections are all treated differently. Each infection has its own symptoms, classifications, and incubation periods. These infections are transmitted in very similar fashions, but they do not all target the same population.