Hepatitis b
Hepatitis B vaccine
ASSIGNMENT
In order to address the general questions posed by the case study, you will individually research information on the disease(s) caused by a particular microbe and the vaccine that is used for it. Address the following questions for the microbe and vaccine that you have been assigned:
1. a. Describe the typical symptoms of the disease(s) caused by the agent.
Hepatitis B can cause acute (short-term) illness and that can lead to loss of appetite, diarrhea, tiredness, jaundice, and pain in muscles, joints, and stomach. Acute illness, with symptoms, is more common among adults. Children who become infected usually do not have symptoms.
b. What are the serious sequelae (complications) caused by the agent and how common are they?
Some people go on to develop chronic hepatitis B infection. Most of them do not have symptoms, but the infection is still very serious, and can lead to liver damage, liver cancer, and death.Chronic infection is more common among infants and children than among adults. People who are chronically infected can spread hepatitis B virus to others, even if they don’t look or feel sick. Up to 1.4 million people in the United States may have chronic hepatitis B infection.
c. Is serious disease primarily a problem only in certain individuals? Explain.
The likelihood that infection with the hepatitis B virus becomes chronic depends upon the age at which a person becomes infected. Children less than 6 years of age who become infected with the hepatitis B virus are the most likely to develop chronic infections:
80–90% of infants infected during the first year of life develop chronic infections;
30–50%% of children infected before the age of 6 years develop chronic infections.
In adults:
<5% of otherwise healthy adults who are infected will develop chronic infection;
15–25% of adults who become chronically infected during childhood die from hepatitis B-related liver cancer or
ASSIGNMENT
In order to address the general questions posed by the case study, you will individually research information on the disease(s) caused by a particular microbe and the vaccine that is used for it. Address the following questions for the microbe and vaccine that you have been assigned:
1. a. Describe the typical symptoms of the disease(s) caused by the agent.
Hepatitis B can cause acute (short-term) illness and that can lead to loss of appetite, diarrhea, tiredness, jaundice, and pain in muscles, joints, and stomach. Acute illness, with symptoms, is more common among adults. Children who become infected usually do not have symptoms.
b. What are the serious sequelae (complications) caused by the agent and how common are they?
Some people go on to develop chronic hepatitis B infection. Most of them do not have symptoms, but the infection is still very serious, and can lead to liver damage, liver cancer, and death.Chronic infection is more common among infants and children than among adults. People who are chronically infected can spread hepatitis B virus to others, even if they don’t look or feel sick. Up to 1.4 million people in the United States may have chronic hepatitis B infection.
c. Is serious disease primarily a problem only in certain individuals? Explain.
The likelihood that infection with the hepatitis B virus becomes chronic depends upon the age at which a person becomes infected. Children less than 6 years of age who become infected with the hepatitis B virus are the most likely to develop chronic infections:
80–90% of infants infected during the first year of life develop chronic infections;
30–50%% of children infected before the age of 6 years develop chronic infections.
In adults:
<5% of otherwise healthy adults who are infected will develop chronic infection;
15–25% of adults who become chronically infected during childhood die from hepatitis B-related liver cancer or