Hepatitis B Research Paper

Hepatitis B is a viral infection acquired through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids of an infected individual. A person infected with the Hepatitis B virus can have an acute infection lasting a couple of weeks or can develop a serious chronic illness. Symptoms of an acute infection occur within 6 months after exposure and can include fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, jaundice, joint and muscle pain. Although many times chronic hepatitis B is asymptomatic it could lead to liver damage, liver cancer, and even death. Hepatitis B can be acquired many ways including sharing of razors and toothbrushes, sex with an infected partner, sharing of needles, and exposure of blood through needle sticks or other sharp instruments. Mothers infected with the virus can transmit the virus to their newborn at or after birth. About 90% of infants who get hepatitis B become chronically infected and about 1 out of 4 of them dies. Due to the severity of Hepatitis B, it is recommended that all children get vaccinated. The first part of the three dose vaccination can be given 12 hours after birth with the last one given 6 months after. If given at
The younger a person is when infected with hepatitis B virus, the greater his or her chance of developing chronic hepatitis B. Approximately 90% of infected infants will develop chronic infection. The risk goes down as a child gets older. Approximately 25–50% of children infected between the ages of one and five years will develop chronic hepatitis. The risk drops to 6–10% when a person is infected over five years of age. Worldwide, most people with chronic hepatitis B were infected at birth or during early childhood. Although a majority of adults develop symptoms from acute hepatitis B virus infection, many young children do not therefore the virus can unknowingly be spread to