Hepatitis B
World wide spread and carriers.
Spread
intravenous route
Sexual contact particularly male homosexuals.
From mother to child during birth.
Virus replicate in the liver.
It can be
Acute infection
Acute infection lead to chronic hepatitis-B.
Clinical features of Hep B
Similar to Hep A.
Nausea, vomiting, headache.
Jaundice, enlarge liver.
Serum sickness like immunological syndrome – rash, polyarthritis.
Majority recover completely.
1% can develop fulminant hepatitis.
Some develop chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Some develop to asymptomatic carrier.
Chronic carriers
5-10% patient will become carriers (some of them had subclinical infection).
Children are more likely than adults.
Some of them might develop to chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Prevention of Hep B
Avoiding risk factors.
Shared needles, multiple male homosexual partners, prostitutes.
Immunization
Active – several doses
Passive – Hep B immunoglobulin.