Hepatitis - B

Hepatitis - B

Introduction

Hepatitis B is a very contagious disease caused by the homonymous virus, also known as HBV, which is transmitted through blood or through bodily fluids (semen, vaginal secretions, saliva), as is the case with the mixed use of syringes, razors and toothbrushes or infected during sexual contact. It is the unprotected intercourse to be the primary cause of infection with hepatitis B, which shows a significant peak at a young age, a time when sexual promiscuity is maximum. Unfortunately, like many other sexually transmitted diseases, the infection can also occur, and especially the work of the so-called asymptomatic carriers, people who do not manifest symptoms for this important and not being aware of their disease, may unknowingly transmit it to others

The risk of contracting hepatitis B is high even for those staying in parts of the world where the infection is widespread; these patients should seriously consider the opportunity to be vaccinated before leaving for their trips, especially if it is "sex tourism". High rates of hepatitis B infection are found in countries such as sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia, the Amazon Basin, the Pacific Islands and the Middle East. Hepatitis B can be easily transmitted from mother to baby during childbirth. Hepatitis B primarily affects the liver, causing an infection sometimes totally asymptomatic, but can cause serious problems, such as the occurrence of liver cancer, cirrhosis or liver failure. In some cases, organ transplantation is the only solution to save the life of the patient.

The majority of adults infected still unable to overcome the infection even when the symptoms are severe. Most at risk are infants and young children, because they are more likely to develop a chronic infection.

Vaccination

A real cure that can eradicate hepatitis B does not exist, but for many years there is a vaccine that can prevent it effectively at any age (protection in 90-95% of cases, the period of coverage estimated at least 23 years). The side effects of hepatitis B vaccine are usually mild and mostly limited to the onset of fatigue, headache, nausea, pain or swelling at the injection site (Blumberg, 2002).

In Italy, in May 1991 was issued a law that all newborns were, by necessity, receive the vaccine against hepatitis B at the same time the administration of vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus and polio. The law required to administer the mandatory vaccine against hepatitis B also twelve years old for the next onset of sexual activity, as required by law, the compulsory vaccination of adolescents was completed in 2003, as from this year the twelve year olds belong to a class of birth already vaccinated in the first year of life. Therefore, about 90% of subjects born after 1979 are immune against the disease, even if, in the presence of risk factors, it is appropriate serological testing to verify the effective immunity (Freedman, 2009).

The vaccination anti-hepatitis B should not however exempt from the control of risk factors associated with it, since these are common to many other diseases (AIDS ...