Hepatitis B virus is double shelled
virus in the family the Hepadnaviridae. Humans are the only known hosts for
HBV, although some nonhuman primate have been infected in lab conditions. In
the world there is an estimated 2 billion people who have been infected with
HBV and more the 350 million people have chronic lifelong infections. HBV
infections is known to cause acute and chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis (1). The
disease is transmitted through blood, blood products, and other body fluids
such as semen (2). This can happen through sharing of the same needle or having
unprotected sex (2).
The World Health Organization estimate
that more than 600, 000 people died in 2002 of Hepatitis B associated acute and
chronic liver disease. There is no clear difference between other acute viral hepatitis
disease. The incubation period ranges from 45-160 days. Symptoms people usually
have mostly commonly occur on adults and children more often are asymptomatic
(1).
(3).
In the prodromal phase symptoms
someone can experience last 3-10 before they start to experience jaundice. The
Symptoms are malaise, fever, headache, myalgia, anorexia, nausea, vomiting,
right upper quadrant abdominal pain, skin rashes, arthralgia. Dark urine is a
symptom 1-2 days before the onset of jaundice. The icteric phase varies but it
usually last 1-3 weeks and is characterized by jaundice, light/gray stool,
hepatic tenderness, and hepatomegaly. In the covalence phase, malaise and
fatigue will continue for weeks or months, the jaundice, anorexia and other
symptoms will disappear (1).
Some complication that come with
Hepatitis B are fulminant hepatitis, which occurs in 1-2% of acute infections. It
is estimated that about 200-300 people die each year in the US. Acute
infections can also lead to hospitalization, cirrhosis, hepatocellular
carcinoma, and even death. Most serious complications are more associated with
HB affections that have become chronic (1).
There are two vaccines recombinant
hepatitis vaccine B vaccines made by different companies and available for both
adult and pediatrics. Merck (Recombivax HB) and GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals
(Engerix-B). The only thing that is different is the number of antigens it
contains. The only vaccine approved for the schedule is Merck vaccine’s. The
pediatric one is approved for children and adults bellow 20 years old. While
the adult is good for 11-19 years old. The vaccine is 80-100% effective in
preventing disease. The schedule is usually the first given at birth, second
1-2 months, third dose is 6-18 months (1).
Since the host is only human this
disease is able to be eradicated. WHO actually has a plan to attempt to
eradicate it by the year 2030 (4).
Resources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, April 15). Pinkbook. Retrieved May 07, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepb.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, July 1). Hepatitis B - Chapter 4 - 2020 Yellow Book. Retrieved May 07, 2020, from https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2020/travel-related-infectious-diseases/hepatitis-b
- McKesson Medical-Surgical Inc. (n.d.). Merck 00006409402 - McKesson Medical-Surgical. Retrieved May 07, 2020, from https://mms.mckesson.com/product/927963/Merck-00006409402
- Liu, J., Liang, W., Jing, W., & Liu, M. (2019). Countdown to 2030: Eliminating hepatitis B disease, China. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 97(3), 230-238. doi:10.2471/blt.18.219469
