What is Hepatitis B ?

By basic definition, hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. The liver cells are damaged and gradually replaced by scar tissue.

It is usually accompanied by the following clinical symptoms:

Fever
Jaundice
Enlarged Liver
Fatigue
Malaise
Vomiting
Anorexia
Dark colored urine
The incubation period is 45 to 180 days with the norm being 60 to 90 days. The disease is caused by a virus and some people can be carriers without actively having the disease. Approximately 8 % of the persons exposed become carriers of the disease. Of these 8%, 25 % will develop chronic active Hepatitis. Teenagers and adults are the most susceptible to contracting the disease. Health care workers and others who handle soiled dressings, clothes, etc are at the greatest risk. The Hepatitis B virus has been detected up to 7 days after the carriers blood or body fluids has dried on a counter top or other surfaces. The highest concentrations of the virus are found in blood and serous fluids, lower concentrations are found in semen, vaginal fluid and saliva. Thus, blood exposures and sexual contact are common modes of transmission. Transmission has not been documented to occur as a result of other types of exposure to saliva including kissing or through athletic participation.

HBsAG has been detected in low concentrations in other body fluids including tears, sweat, urine, feces, breast milk, cerebral spinal fluid and synovial fluid. However, these fluids have not been shown to be associated with disease transmission of HBV. The most common mode of transmission is via sexual contact. The transmission of HBV may also occur via percutaneous exposures which include tattooing, ear piercing, acupuncture and by needle sticks. Thus, it is important for the health care provider to be careful with sharp instruments and always make use of Sharps Containers to dispose of used needles and scalpels.

Hepatitis B is the 9th leading cause of death worldwide. Approximately 2 million people die each year primarily from Hepatitis B related cirrhosis and liver cancer. This disease affects an estimated 5 % of the entire world population. More than 200 million people are chronic carriers of the Hepatitis B virus. The Hepatitis B virus is often linked to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, yet the Hepatitis B virus is far more widespread throughout the world and is 300 times more contagious.

http://www.train.tcu.edu/blood2.htm