Hepatitis
B: Red Alert
Jaundice
is no longer a simple disease. It has evolved into
something serious known as Hepatitis B . One should
be aware of its implications and preventions.
This
subject is new but the statistics are, and jaundice
has suddenly been elevated to 
a
disease to be reckoned with. A tougher strin of the
virus that causes jaundice has reared its ugly head
and the medical world and social organisations alike
are putting in immense efforts to combat it. We are
talking abotu Hepatitis B, which doctors claim has
infected atleast 4.5 percent of the population and
one in every 20 people is a carier of the deadly Hepatitis
B virus. India is reported to be the second largest
pool of cariers in the world.
Hepatitis
B is a disease of a liver caused by the infection
of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). this virus destroys
the liver tissues and causes inflammation of the organ.
It is a serious disease and mortality rate during
the acute stage is around 1 percemt. Ten percaent
of the people go on to develop chronic infection which
could result iether in cirrhosis or hepatocellular
carcinoma (liver cancer). Hepatitis Bis the second
most common cause of cancer in the world after tobacco.
Although
the general opinion is that Hepatitis B is a sexually
transmitted disease, a person can also get infected
in several ways and it is 100 times easier to transmit
than HIV, The AIDS virus.
There
are four main ways of transmission: 
- arental:
An infected maother can pass HBV to her birth.
-
Percutaneous : Through use of infected needles (intraveosus
drug user fall in this category).
-
Accidental: Accidental contact with infected blood
or other body fluids (like medical professionals,
people requiring blood transfusions.
-
Sexual: Having unprotected sex with infected partner.
Certain
high risk cateories include:
Due
to professions, doctors nurses and other medical personnel
are exposed to a high risk of contacting the disease
from the blood and the body fluisds of patients. Thalassemics,
dialysis patients can infected during blood tranfusions.
Homosexual, heterosexual having multiple sex partners,
commercisl sex workers, drug abusers are at a high
risk due to their social habits.
Symptoms:
Hepatitis
B is sometimes known to have as long as six-months
incubation period in some victims.
However the most common symptoms are :
| Fatigue
|
Loss
of appetite |
|
Nausea |
Vomiting |
|
Mild Fever |
Painful
Joints |
| Indigestion |
Abdominal Pain |
| Dark
coloured urine |
Jaundice |
Tests
and Treatment.
A
person displaying the above signs should 
have
the following three test done to check whether he
has been infected by Hepatitis B virus.
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
Hepatitis B core antigen
Liver enzyme test.
While
the first two test are confirmatory, the last one
is supportive. There is no allopathic treatment for
Hepatitis Bonly prevention in the form of vaccination.
Doctors recommend complete rest during the acute phase
of the illness. Patients should avoid alcohol.
Prognosis
The symptoms usually subside after three weeks. However,
statistics show that 10 percent of the infected people
go on to develop chronic Hepatitis Bthat could result
in cirrhosis or hepatocelllar carcinoma.
Vaccination
Hepatitis B vaccinations like Engerix B and Shamvac
are widely available in the market for Rs.250 per
1 ml dose. Three doses of the vaccine should be taken
over a period of six months starting fron the first
month known as zero month, followed by the second
dose after one month and the final dose after six
months. According to the American academy of Pediatrics,
a child too needs three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine
to be fuuly protected against the infection. The first
vaccination should be given birth, the second dose
at 1 to 4 months and the third dose at 6 to 18 month.
Routine
Safety precaution
- Get
vaccinated.
- Aviod
sexual contact with a person infected with Hepatitis
B
- Practice
safe sex
Use
a condom if you are unsure of the status 
of
your partners health. Do not share syringes or other
intimate items like razors and toothbrushes.
What's
being done out of it?
-
Hospitals have been put on red alert. Nowadays,
pregnant women undergo ruotine screening for Hepatitis
B. Similarly, blood dontions too are screened. Donars
are screened and asked personal questions regarding
their sexual activities and drug use. Later, test
are conducted on the donated blood.
-
Meanwhile, non-governmental organisations are conducting
Hepatitis B vaccination drives all around the country.
Both adults and children are encouraged to be vaccinated
at a nominal rate of Rs. 25.
-
The government to is holding discussions as to whether
Hepatitis B vaccination should be included in the
immunisation Scheme.
