Hepatitis B Infection: Causes, Transmission and Types
What is hepatitis B?
Many of us know what hepatitis B infection is, and also know how dangerous it is. But some people may not know specifically how the virus is transmitted from one person to another, or do not know how to protect themselves from being infected with that dangerous virus.
What is hepatitis? It means inflammation of the liver, that may progress into serious conditions leading to liver damage and failure. It can be caused by many factors such as abuse of alcohol, toxins, some medications, and some pathogens most of which are viruses. The most common causative viruses are A virus, B virus, and C virus. Virus A can cause a short-term infection, while both B and C can become chronic and lifelong conditions.
What is Hepatitis B
It is a liver disease that is caused by B virus (HBV), which affects the liver, causing acute and chronic liver disease. It can cause lifelong health problems, like liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and even death.
Transmission of the virus
It is commonly transmitted through sex. Also, it spreads from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth, through contact with blood, injection with contaminated needles or exposure to contaminated sharp objects.
Global prevalence of the disease
According to records, (the World Health Organization), about 300 million people live with chronic hepatitis B infection in 2019, and about 1.5 million new infections occurring every year. In 2019, about 820,000 deaths occurred due to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Vaccines
There are safe and effective vaccines against the Virus, which can protect against infection.
Transmission of hepatitis B Virus?
- Unprotected sex: If blood, semen, or other bodily fluids, from a person infected with hepatitis B Virus, enters your eyes, nose, or mouth, or directly into your blood, you will probably be infected. You will be exposed to such body fluids when you have unprotected sex with an infected person.
- Mother to baby: Also, an infected mother can transmit the virus to her fetus during pregnancy or childbirth. Therefore, in severely endemic countries, the virus is common to spread from infected mothers to their child. So, chronic hepatitis B infection is widely spread in these countries among infants infected by their mothers.
- Occupational exposure to HBV: The virus is also transmitted by using contaminated needles and syringes (among health workers). Source for more reading.
- Contaminated sharp tools: Sharing contaminated needles and syringes (among addicts and people who inject drugs) transmits infection. Also, sharing contaminated sharp tools can transmit infection. The virus is spread through sexual practices and is more common in people who have multiple sexual partners.
Can the virus live outside the body?
Short answer is Yes. The virus can survive outside the body for more than 7 days, provided that circumstances are suitable for its survival. During this time, if a person was exposed to contaminated subject (like wounded by a nail cutter), the infection can be transmitted to him. (SOURCE)
Symptoms of Hepatitis B
Some people may become infected with the virus and have no symptoms after infection. Symptoms may appear in some other people, called acute hepatitis B. In that case, symptoms are usually severe and last for several weeks, and the condition may develop into acute liver failure, and death. Some patients develop a chronic condition, (chronic hepatitis B), which is serious with long-term complications, such as cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and death.
Common symptoms of the acute infection
The incubation period, (period from exposure to have symptoms) for hepatitis B virus is 30 to 180 days. The virus can be detected within 30 to 60 days after infection, called window period). Acute infection can persist and develop into chronic condition. In acute infection, symptoms are usually severe and last for several weeks
- Fever: Fever is common symptom of acute hepatitis B. It can be moderate or high fever. You can take Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Paracetamol, it will help.
- fatigue with Muscle and joint pains: It is another common symptom of acute hepatitis.
- Jaundice: The skin and the whites of the eyes become yellow in color. Also, dark urine and Mud-colored stool may occur.
- Gastrointestinal problems: Some people may feel stomach pain (in the right upper part of the abdomen), due to inflammation of the liver capsule and surrounding tissues.
Nausea and vomiting: Hunger can exaggerate nausea and stomach pain. Thus, you are advised to eat something between meals.
Appetite loss: Appetite loss along with weight loss are common signs of hepatis B.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is a crucial step in treating the disease and preventing it. Here’s how to Diagnose Hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B can be diagnosed by a simple blood test that can be done at any laboratory, or even at the doctor’s office. The single one test to start with is HBsAg blood test which can detect the presence of Hepatitis B Surface antigen which is strong evidence for the infection. If the result is negative, hepatitis B is excluded. Otherwise, (if positive), you need to undergo for further tests in medical laboratory to find out id acute or chronic, and whether actine or non-active, called hepatitis B panel tests.
The panel tests
There are 3 parts to the hepatitis B panel tests, that will answer the following questions: Are you infected with HBV? Is the infection acute or chronic? Can you infect others? Are you protected, (because you were vaccinated or have been infected before and recovered). Are you at risk of being infected? The test report confusing, so you need a doctor’s assistance to understand your the blood test results.
The blood test requires only one sample of blood. You and your doctor need to know all three test results in order to fully understand whether you are infected, protected or still at risk for infection. Your health care provider may ask to check your blood again in six months after your first visit to confirm your hepatitis B status.
Summary of tests and procedures:
- Antigen test: HBsAg blood test,
- Transient elastography: An ultrasound test to detect and evaluate the presence of liver damage.
- Liver Biopsy: Extracting a small piece of the liver tissue to assess the extent of damage to liver.
Vaccines
Hepatitis B nfections acquired in adulthood leads to chronic type of infection in about 5% to 10% of cases, while children’s infection can lead to chronic condition in about 95% of patients. Therefore, vaccination of neonates and children is implemented in most of the countries, to achieve immunity in the future. The vaccine can prevent infection. Usually, it is given in 3 doses; the first dose is recommended within the first day of birth and second dose after one month. Another, a third one, after 6 months, (as a booster). The vaccine can protect children for many years.
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