MUST READ!! HEPATITIS B ALERT!!

Did you know hepatitis B is one of the major cause of mortality? Learn and equip with this health tip..... And please don't forget to send in your questions and share so friends can also know what we know.
Hepatitis B is an acute systemic infection which primarily affects the liver. Epidemiological survey show that about 5% of the world population are asymptomatic carriers. Chronic HBV infection is a major cause of mortality and about 50% of chronic carriers are expected to die from the disease due to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. It is caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) which is a DNA virus belonging to the family hepadnavirus. The virus has a double stranded DNA, inner core protein and outer surface coat which is the Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) .
The virus have been detected in peripheral mononuclear cells, tissue of pancreas, spleen, kidney and skin and fluids like saliva, semen, breast milk, tears, vaginal secretion and urine. The risk of progression of chronic liver disease depends on the source of infection, age at the time of infection. Vertical transmission from mother to child in the perinatal period is the most common source of infection worldwide and carries the highest risk of progression of chronic liver disease of 90%. Other sources of transmission are injection drug use, infected unscreened blood products, tattoo/acupuncture needles, sexually.



HBV also serve as a risk factor for the types of hepatitis especially hepatitis D which also primarily affects the liver. An estimated 400million people are infected with HBV with the majority of the cases occurring in regions of Asia and Africa. HBV in Nigeria has remained a public health issue.
Knowledge of ones immune status especially in pregnant women will help in clinical management and also reduce vertical transmission risk, and also will help in advising and taking precautionary measures in protecting the public health and provide required information for management.