HEPATITIS AND HEPATITIS В VACCINE
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a non specific term meaning inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis А, В, С and D, are caused by a family of viral infections. Other conditions produce hepatitis in the absence of infection. They include an excess of iron as seen in Hemochromatosis, an excess of copper as seen in Wilson's Disease and of course alcohol.
Once described as infectious hepatitis, the Hepatitis A Virus is spread by poor hygiene. There is a vaccine in the pipeline, however the condition is not serious and infection confers a life long immunity. Gamma Globulin can be injected to reduce the severity of symptoms; but it will not prevent an infection once incubation has begun.
Hepatitis В was called serum hepatitis because it was thought that the infection spread by blood to blood transmission. Now we know the virus can be transmitted by all the bodily fluids including semen during sexual intercourse. Hepatitis В produces an ongoing hepatitis in up to a third of its recipients. About one third of this smaller group goes on to suffer from cirrhosis of the liver or liver tumours and death. An effective vaccine exists and debate; now centers on the possibility of including the Hepatitis В vaccine with the routine child hood vaccinations of Triple Antigen and Polio.
The term Non A Non В Hepatitis was formerly used to describe the form of hepatitis now known as Hepatitis С. About one per cent of the Australian population is affected by this virus which appears more virulent and lethal than its Hepatitis В relation. Fortunately Hepatitis С is less infectious than Hepatitis B; although no vaccine yet exists for its prevention.
Hepatitis D appears to be a subfraction of the Hepatitis В Virus with an increase in virulence and unpleasant outcomes, whilst Hepatitis E is a form of epidemic hepatitis that produces still births in pregnant women. It seems to occur more often in South East Asia than it does in Australia.
Hepatitis В Vaccine
The universal use of effective Hepatitis В vaccines has yet to be advocated by the powers that be. Immunization should occur in and around risk groups like intravenous drug users, homosexuals, doctors, nurses, laboratory workers and people working in institutions with the intellectually handicapped. The heterosexually promiscuous are also advised to have a Hepatitis В vaccination, as are people whose sexual partners are Asian or Aboriginal. The prevalence of Hepatitis В amongst these groups is 33 per cent and 50 per cent respectively.
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GENERAL HEALTH
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