HBV is the hepatitis B virus, a blood borne pathogen,
which causes hepatitis B, the most serious form of hepatitis. Hepatitis means
“inflammation of the liver”.
HBV is a serious public health problem: Not only it is
a debilitating, lengthy illness but also it is the primary cause of liver
cancer, the major cause of death by cancer worldwide.
Mode of
Transmission
- Infected blood and body fluids.
- From mother to newborn child.
- Through cuts and grazes caused by sharing of sharp instruments like razors, shavers and toothbrushes.
- Acupuncture, tattoo, ear piercing with infected instruments.
- Use of infected blood e.g. blood transfusion.
- Sexual contact either heterosexual or homosexual (hepatitis is widespread among this group).
- Use of infected needles e.g. by drug addicts.
Signs and symptoms
- Aching in the muscles and joints.
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea, sometimes vomiting
- Fever, chills
- Pain upper right side of abdomen
- Later stage- jaundice (yellowness of skin and whites of eye), pale faces and dark urine.
- The incubation period for HBV is six weeks to six months.
Prevention and
Treatment of HBV
- Avoidance of sexual activity with multiple partners and unprotected sexual activity.
- Avoidance of I.V drug use.
- Observance of universal precautions (correct use of barrier protection and disinfection and sterilization practices).
- Vaccination with hepatitis B vaccine that provide immunity to HBV. Post-exposure vaccination is recommended within 24 hours of exposure.