Hepatitis B: Difference between revisions
Created page with "Hepatitis B virus is a DNA virus. It can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis. It's usually prevented by a childhood vaccine. Treatment exists for chronic hepatitis B. == Etiology == HBV is very infective, 50 – 100 times more infective than HIV. Like hepatitis C and D, transmission usually occurs due to: * Parenteral ** IV drug users ** Health care personnel * Sexual (esp. men who have sex with men) * Perinatal == Clinical features == Hepatitis B can cause both ac..." |
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Hepatitis B virus is a DNA virus. It can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis. It's usually prevented by a childhood vaccine. Treatment exists for chronic hepatitis B. | '''Hepatitis B virus''' is a DNA virus. It can cause both acute [[viral hepatitis]] and chronic hepatitis. It's usually prevented by a childhood vaccine. Treatment exists for chronic hepatitis B. | ||
== Etiology == | == Etiology == | ||
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* Parenteral | * Parenteral | ||
** IV drug users | ** [[IV drug use|IV drug users]] | ||
** Health care personnel | ** Health care personnel | ||
* Sexual (esp. men who have sex with men) | * Sexual (esp. men who have sex with men) | ||
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For acute hepatitis, about 30% of persons are asymptomatic. Symptomatic persons generally have jaundice and nonspecific symptoms like fatigue and anorexia. | For acute hepatitis, about 30% of persons are asymptomatic. Symptomatic persons generally have jaundice and nonspecific symptoms like fatigue and anorexia. | ||
Chronic hepatitis occurs more frequently in children than adults. It’s usually asymptomatic, but problematic because it can cause chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. | Chronic hepatitis occurs more frequently in children than adults. It’s usually asymptomatic, but problematic because it can cause chronic liver disease and [[hepatocellular carcinoma]]. | ||
== Microbiology == | == Microbiology == | ||
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Acute hepatitis B requires no treatment. | Acute hepatitis B requires no treatment. | ||
Chronic hepatitis B is treated with pegylated interferon or nucleoside analogues like entecavir or tenofovir. | Chronic hepatitis B is treated with pegylated [[interferon]] or [[Nucleoside analogue|nucleoside analogues]] like entecavir or tenofovir. | ||
== Prevention == | == Prevention == | ||