The Major Effects of Hapetitis B

Hepatitis B is an infectious inflammatory illness of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) that affects hominoidea, including humans.

Originally known as "serum hepatitis", the disease has caused epidemics in parts of Asia and Africa, and it is endemic in China.


About a third of the world population has been infected at one point in their lives, including 350 million who are chronic carriers of this deadly disease.


The virus is transmitted by exposure to infectious blood or body fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids, while viral DNA has been detected in the saliva, tears, and urine of chronic carriers. Perinatal infection is a major route of infection in endemic (mainly developing) countries.



Other risk factors for developing HBV infection include working in a healthcare setting, transfusions, dialysis, acupuncture, tattooing, sharing razors or toothbrushes with an infected person, travel in countries where it is endemic, and residence in an institution.

However, hepatitis B viruses cannot be spread by holding hands, sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, kissing, hugging, coughing, sneezing, or breastfeeding.





The acute illness causes liver inflammation, vomiting, jaundice, and, rarely, death. Chronic hepatitis B may eventually cause cirrhosis and liver cancer a disease with poor response to all but a few current therapies. The infection is preventable by vaccination.

The viruses replicate through an RNA intermediate form by reverse transcription, which in practice relates them to retroviruses.

Although replication takes place in the liver, the virus spreads to the blood where viral proteins and antibodies against them are found in infected people. The hepatitis B virus is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV.

 

Hepatitis B is the most serious liver infection that is caused by the virus that is called by the same name.

It affects the liver thereby causing cirrhosis, liver failure or even liver cancer. This virus is capable of transmitting itself through the blood and bodily fluids.

Generally, people falling under the categories like those with infected partners, first aiders, infants born with their mother having this infection at the time of delivery, emergency personnel and health care workers are prone to attack by this virus.

 

Even though, infants get this when the mom has this infection during delivery, if a pregnant woman is diagnosed with this virus attack in the early stages of pregnancy, treatment for hepatitis B in the form of vaccines can protect the infant.

People falling under the high risk category can take some defensive acts to protect themselves from this infection. Some of the questions about this virus and appropriate answers are given below:

How to know whether you are at high risk category?

The point is that if you are working in the health care industry or when you are working in labs and are dealing with blood and bodily fluids, you are at higher risk of getting affected.

How to protect yourself?

People, who are falling under high-risk category are recommended to opt for preventive vaccination as compared to opting for treatment for hepatitis B. The vaccination is given three times within six months.

 

Also, it would be wise to get the anti-body level of hepatitis B analyzed once in six weeks after the completion of the vaccination series.

This will ensure sufficient protection and repetition of series of vaccination would be effective to stay protected.

What are the additional precautionary measures to be taken?

It would be wise to avoid direct contact with bodily fluids and if there are diluted bleach solution and before giving care to infected people, it would be wise to cover the cuts and open sores if any in your body. After potential exposure, do not forget to wash your hands completely with warm water and soap.

How to find out the status of Hepatitis B?

A blood test from a professional lab will be enough for finding whether you are affected by this infection.

 

Prevention is always better than cure and so it would be wise to ensure that preventive measures are taken.

Like this infection, there are other conditions and cure for gonorrhea as well. Before approaching a health care provider to get a cure for gonorrhea, it would be wise to ensure that regular testing would be ideal.