Hepatitis B

I recently just found out that Hepatitis B is endemic in Nigeria. Something like 15% of the population are living with the virus. You hear a lot about HIV (rightly so) but never hear anything about Hep B which is much more infectious than it. It is quite deadly but can be prevented via a vaccine, however it has no 'cure'. One would think that it would be given a lot more publicity considering the fact that a vaccine for it is available.

To my understanding the hepatitis B virus isn't anything like HIV simply because:

a. For one, the body's immune system can hold off the Hep B virus longer than HIV i.e. one can be a carrier in the event one is infected with Hep B much longer than with infection with HIV.  

b. While Hep B affects the liver (and its related functions), the HIV attacks the body's own immune system (specific and eventually non-specific) leaving one open to all types of pathogens. You could die of AIDS (from HIV) due to infection from both foreign pathogens and normal flora (microorganisms on our body) while with hep B you can die probably from cirrhosis, cancer or hepatic encephalopathy.

c. In the worst case with hep B, surgery can be done (where 60% of a donor liver is transplanted, (problem, compatibility, so be ready to be on a list ). Most people seek family members and the liver regenerates completely in 8-10wks (donor and receiver). But in HIV , there is still NO CURE.  

At least, there is a vaccine for Hep B.

hep b is never alcohol induced.its got through blood/other body fluids.no doubt alcohol its toxic to the liver itself and so expectedly the liver is more likely to be damaged in people with hep b and comorbid alcoholism.hep c is another one that's blood borne.my advice is try and get vaccinated cos its a simple way of preventing potentially serious diseases.

its suprising that a lot of pple still think that there is no relation ship btw hepatitis and alchohol.
wat pple dont know is that hepatitis is bothn viral and non viral and it can be either chronic or acute.
its jus that 80% of hepatitis is infections is by viral infections.

arikky,as u can c from the post it states "hepatitis b".its only one cause;a double stranded dna virus!!!!!!!true u can have alcoholic hepatitis and other infectoius agents causing hepatitis.so don't confuse issues?!!

Hepatis is latin for liver

Inflamation is usually denoted wit an -itis suffix. e.g gastritis; inflammation of the gastric mucosa, tenosynovitis; inflammation of the synovial sheath around a tendon , pancreatitis; inflammation of the pancreas.

Therefore it follows that hepatitis is inflammation of the liver.

This liver inflammation can be brought about by various things including viruses (ranging from A to G)

The particular virus in question is the hepatitis B virus. One can either be chronically infected or acutely infected.

The acute infection is short term i.e lasts less than six months. Has four stages:
- incubation period, as the name implies
- pre-icteric period, characterized by experience of fatigue, sickness, loss of apetite and nausea
- icteric phase, Jaundice (either a mild or severe form due to impaired liver function of converting bilirubin to bile)
- recovery, as the name implies

Chronic is long term, no cure is available. Can lead to fibrosis of liver tissue and then cirrhosis (note that alcohol can cause this as well). Can also lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer).
Some people with this form may not have any symptoms while others may have severe complications and die. Dependent upon their viral count

Why should there be more publicity for it? well because there's a vaccine available for it but no cure. People at high risk should be educated about it and vaccinated and vertical transmission prevented. Many people walk around Hep B +ve unaware of the risk they pose to themselves and others. Only when more people know their status will its spread be curbed. It costs more to manage and treat than it is to prevent, and i mean not just financially but emotionally as well.

Hep B facts

about 100 times more infective than HIV and 10 times more infective than Hep c

Virus can survive outside bod on dry surface for up to a week

9 out of 10 adults clear only experience an acute infection and manage to clear the virus.

In those unable to clear it, it progresses to chronic hepatitis.

Only 1 in 10 children clear the virus

9 out of 10 progress to chronic infection

Almost a million die each year from Hep B

Nice contributions. You guys are good. Well done!

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis generally?

Where can you have the vaccine? @ any hospt

Lemme help out with the little research I have carried out on hep B.First up I tested positive to hep B surface antigen(HBsAg) and I was refused a job based on that.
1. Hep B is 100 times more infectious than HIV and it is transmitted through blood contacts or perinatal means i.e (birth related)

2.According to the Internet statistics 1 out of 3 people in the world will be exposed to the virus at one point in their life time.There are two stages of hep B,the acute and the chronic stage.90 percent of those who catch the virus as adults will only go through the acute stage and their bodies will become immuned to the virus,they do not transmit it n are not at the risk of liver cancer or cirrhosis.However 10 percent never develop immunity and become chronic carriers(i.e the virus becomes active over the years and gradually attacks the virus,3 percent out of this 10 percent end up with liver cancer or cirrhosis)

3. For people who got the virus as kids,they stand a 90 percent chance of becoming chronic carriers and ending up with liver cancer or cirrhosis later on in life.

4 In order to know ones status for Hepatitis B,the first routine test which is usually carried out is the HBsAG test( surface antigen test),a positive result indicates that their is an ongoing infection but it is not enough to say that the person has become a chronic carrier.Further tests needs to be carried out which includes the core antigen test and the E-antigen test.These are the only test that can tell the true situation of the hepatitis virus.But unfortunately,in Nigeria the core antigen and E-antigen testing facilities are not readily available.The core antigen and E-antigen tests are important because of the inconclusiveness of the surface antigen because it is very possible that a chronic carrier could reverse to a negative stage of surface antigen,so in order to be very sure one needs a surface antigen test and core antigen test done.

5 Vaccines have been developed to protect those that ave not caught the virus yet,the vaccines are taken 3 times over a period of 6months,and it is readily available in LUTH and some other health centres costs about 1800 naira per jab.Another interesting thing to note is when you're vaccinated your body becomes positive to the surface antigen test for a while then reverts to a negative state.(A piece of advice if you're going into a company that discriminates,u might want to wait till your medicals is over before u take the jab so dey wont stupidly assume you're an hep carrier)

6. For those who end up being chronic carriers all hope aint lost,Inter-feron has shown promising results and recently it is being combined with lamuvidine(i hope my spelling is right).It doesnt cure hepatitis but it delays the progress,and the results are getting more encopuraging over the years.Other drugs are currently being developed.

7 My piece of advice,to avoid the unneccessary trauma,discrimination among employers and all that crap we face ere in Nigeria spare a few thousands while you're still negative and protect yourself and your loved ones.Really Hepatitis B is becoming a scourge in sub-saharan Africa and it is amazing how such can be swept under the carpet and not given huge media attention like HIV.

8 Please note,I am not a medical expert,everything I have posted here is from discussions with my medical friends and some research I carried out on my own.

Good job Guys, we need more info on this.
I wasn't fully aware of its deadliness untill it killed someone close to me recently.