Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection that is caused by the hepatitis B virus.  For most populations, hepatitis B becomes chronic, which means it can last for more than half a year. When one suffers from hepatitis B, they have increased risks of development of liver failure, liver cancer as well as cirrhosis, which is a condition that leads to permanent scars of the liver. Most of the adults that suffer from hepatitis B end up recovering fully even when there signs and symptoms seem to be severe. Further, infants and children have high chances of developing prolonged lasting hepatitis B infection. Research indicates that hepatitis B can lead to help in preventing the disease, but there is no exact cure for the condition. In the case where one is infected, there is a need to take particular precautions to assist in the prevention of the spread of the virus to the others.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of hepatitis B appear from mild to severe. In most cases, they are seen about one to three months after one is infected even though one can see them as early as in two weeks of post-infection. Most people, like children, may not show any symptoms. The symptoms of the disease may include having abdominal pain, dark urine as well as the loss of appetite, and having weaknesses and fatigue. Additionally, one can show yellowing of the skin and whites of their eyes and experience nausea and vomiting. One may have belly pain or show light colored poop.

Causes

Hepatitis B infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus, which is passed from one individual to the other through either blood, semen, or any blood fluids. However, it does not spread through sneezing and coughing. The common ways which the hepatitis B virus can spread through; sexual contact where one is engaged in unprotected sex with some that have the infection. It can also be passed through an individual’s blood, saliva, and virginal secretion that enter the body.

Further, HBV can spread through the sharing of needles and syringes, which are contaminated with infected blood. When people share IV drug paraphernalia, which puts one is a high risk of contracting hepatitis B. the disease is a significant health care concern for the workers and anyone who gets in contact with human blood when they get in an accidental needle stick. In the case of mother to child, any pregnant woman that is infected with HBV can pass it to the babies during childbirth. However, the born child could be vaccinated to help avoid getting infected in that case. Hence, one should talk to the doctor about being diagnosed with hepatitis B in the case where one is pregnant or wants to get pregnant.

Hepatitis B infection could either be acute or chronic. Severe hepatitis B infection mostly lasts for less than six months. The immune systems can heal hepatitis B from the infected body making one recover in a short time. Most of the people that get hepatitis B as adults face acuter infection, which leads to chronic infection. On the other hand, chronic hepatitis B infection can last for like six months or more. This is because the immune system cannot fight off the infection. Additionally, chronic hepatitis B infections can last for a lifetime, which leads to serious illness like cirrhosis and liver cancer. The younger you are when you get hepatitis B to have high chances of their infection becoming chronic. In other cases, chronic infection can be undetected for decades up to when the individual receives a serious illness from their liver disease. The hepatitis B virus causes hepatitis B.

Common complications of hepatitis B

Hepatitis B can progress and lead to complications that one should be aware of like fibroids. One of the common complications of chronic hepatitis b is fibrosis, which is mostly caused by liver scarring. If fibrosis makes the liver gets damaged through constant inflammations which creates scar tissues for repairing itself. However, the scar tissues keep the liver from working.

Another complication is cirrhosis of the liver, which refers to extensive fibrosis. Any cirrhosis related starring is irreversible and has no treatment. The best solution for this is through a liver transplant. Further liver cancer is common cirrhosis. It can develop as two types, which are hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiogram, which affect the liver cells. Liver failure is serious, although it is not a common complication of hepatitis. When the liver is no longer functioning, then it can lead to the body shut down, which leads to death. There are different reasons why the liver fails, but generally, the leading cause is when it is damaged hence being unable to keep playing its functions for the body needs. Glomerulonephritis is another common complication that is a kidney disorder caused by inflammation related to immune response. It is commonly seen in people suffering from chronic hepatitis B, and without treatment, then it can severely damage the kidneys.

Cryoglobulinemia is caused by an abnormal cluster of proteins which blocks small blood vessels. It is a common disease for those that have chronic hepatitis B and can lead to circulation problems. Other common complications of hepatitis B is hepatic encephalopathy, porphyria as well as viral co-infection.

Diagnosis

The doctor examines one and looks for signs and symptoms of liver damage like yellowing of the skin and belly pain. There are different tests that can help in diagnosing hepatitis B, which include; blood tests that detect various symptoms of hepatitis B in the body and informs the doctor where it is acute or chronic. Carrying out of blood tests determines if one is immune to the condition. Further, doctors can diagnose the disease through a special ultrasound named transient elastography, which shows the number of liver damages. In other cases, the doctor can remove a small sample of the liver to carry out a liver biopsy to check for any liver damages. During liver biopsy, the doctor inserts a thin needle in the skin and the liver.

Treatment

The treatment of hepatitis B depends on how long one has been infected. Acute hepatitis B does not have any specific treatment, but treatment can help in relieving the symptoms. Chronic hepatitis B is treated with medications for keeping the virus under control. For emergency hepatitis B infection, one can get a dose of the hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin. It helps in the preparation of antibodies that work against the hepatitis B virus and offers short term protection up to when the vaccine begins to take effect.

Treatment for acute hepatitis B

When one is diagnosed with hepatitis B, they are referred to a hepatologist. Even though most people do not portray troublesome symptoms, in the case where one feels unwell, then it can help when they get plenty of rest or take some over the counter painkillers like paracetamol. Further marinating a cool and well-ventilated environment helps in dealing with the symptoms. In most cases, people recover completely in months, but one is advised to have continuous blood tests for checking if one is free from the virus and has not caught the chronic hepatitis B.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis B

When blood tests show that even after six months there is hepatitis B, doctors recommend medication for reducing the risks of complications of hepatitis B. the doctor also carries out the regular tests for assessing the health of the liver. Treatment is offered if the immune system is unable to control hepatitis B, and there are ongoing liver damage. Hepatitis B medications help to keeping the virus under control and stop it from damaging the liver even though it does not completely cure the infection. Most of the leading medications for chronic hepatitis B entails peg interferon Alfa 2 a  and antiviral medications.

In the case where the liver is working well, the forts treatment one gets is the peginterferon Alfa 2-a. It helps in the stimulation of the immune system in attacking the hepatitis B virus and regaining control over it.  It is done through injection once a week for 48 weeks. On the other hand, antiviral medications are given when the liver is not functioning well.

Hepatitis B is a reportable disease where it should be investigated immediately after the case is identified to ensure there is an adequate time of implementing the necessary preventive measures, which can include the provision of post-exposure prophylaxis to contacts. One should report the disease to the nearest healthcare facility.

Social determinants of health

There are different factors that determine the health of a person. They include income and social status of a person since it determines their ability to accessing quality healthcare. One’s childhood experiences and their physical environment highly assess their health status. Further, the initiated healthy behaviors and having access to health services highly determine a person’s health. A person’s socioeconomic is shaped by different factors, including education, occupation, and income. All these factors high impact a person’s health and well-being of the people.

Additionally, a person’s culture plays a key role in determining their health. These social factors significantly impact the development of hepatitis B. health insurance coverage, having worries on how to settle bills, and the language of the interview, has excellent effects on HBV testing and treatment. Further, once income has a great impact on their ability to accessing quality healthcare.

Epidemiologic triangle of hepatitis B

Epidemiologic triangles contain three components that explain the dynamic interaction that happens in the infection process. These components include host, environment, and agent. Hepatitis B infection is caused by the existence and increment of HBV viruses in body tissues. In that case, HBV is the causing agent for hepatitis B, with hepatocellular cells being the host. After the invasion of hepatocytes, they respond through replication of the viruses in the liver. The inaction makes the body to develop systems like inflammation, fever, and pain. HBV infections are asymptomatic and are detected through blood tests. Because of the asymptomatic nature, the disease ends up being chronic because the virus remains undiagnosed for a long time.

Role of community health nurses in relation to hepatitis B

Most people with hepatitis B remain asymptomatic and may not be able to fall sick, which means that they do not seek any medical checkup. So community health workers have a hard time in the sensitization of hepatitis B patients because of the limited chances of getting the clinical tests. However, health centers could create a health departments that majorly focuses in the creation of awareness of the disease in the community. With this department, nurses can carry out studies on those patients that have high chances of contracting hepatitis B. it will offer an opportunity for encouraging these people to get medical tests. The fact that HBV has a vaccine, it places the community nurses in a better position of sensitization of the community that have high risks and areas which seem to have high prevalence of hepatitis B.  The group of people that have high chances of contracting the disease is people that share needs, patients undergoing blood transfusion and mother-child infection in delivery process.

Demographic data is important for the health of the community since it offers a reliable source of data which offers a valuable insights concerning the community’s future. It helps in designing and implementing community health initiatives which are applied for promotion of good health practices such as the promotion of testing of Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B Foundation is a national agency which focuses fully on hepatitis B. its main commitment in resolving of the diseases is through the funding of research, promotion of disease awareness as well as support immunization and treatment initiatives. It also serves as a primary source of reliable information for the medical and scientific communities.

There is the global implications of hepatitis B. it is a major global health issue. It leads to chronic infection and puts individuals ta high risk of succumbing to cirrhosis and liver cancer. In dealing with Hepatitis B, other countries children get their vaccine with 24hrs of birth, which is combined with hepatitis B immunoglobulin, which helps in reducing risks of transmitting hepatitis B. further, and it is compulsory for one to go through hepatitis B testing when they develop any severe infection. Also, hepatitis B is endemic to specific areas such as Southeast Asia, amazon basin, and the Asian republic. The HBV carrier rates are approximately 8%.

In conclusion, hepatitis B is a major global health issue. It is caused by the HBV virus, which can be transmitted through needles, childbirth, and during a blood transfusion. To avoid the infection becoming chronic, there is a need to get tested once in a while. The treatment of hepatitis B depends on how long one has been infected. Acute hepatitis B does not have any specific treatment but treatment can help in relieving the symptoms. I recommend that different hepatitis B foundations should come together and come up with a permanent cure for the disease.