Good evening guys, welcome to a new week.
I just want to share my experience from the past week about the increasing prevalence of Hepatitis B infection in Nigeria.

Recently, the group I volunteered for a reputable organization to conduct free screening and vaccination exercises for Hepatitis B Virus at various popular markets in the Nigeria.

Wetin eyes see, mouth no fit talk.

A lot of people are living with the virus with no single idea they had it. It is said to be 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV. That means one can easily get infected.

So, I will take a few lines to educate us about Hepatitis B and how dangerous it is.

Hepatitis B is a viral disease. That is, it is caused by a virus called Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). The virus can be transmitted through body fluids (sweat, tears, saliva, lymphatic fluid, cum) and blood. When the virus gets into the human body, it attacks the liver. People with HBV infection have high chances of developing cirrhosis and liver cancer.

An individual can have this viral infection and not show any symptoms for up to 6months. It is often called 'silent killer' because most times by the time its symptoms are observed, a lot of damage must have been done already.

Symptoms
This disease no too get symptoms o. In children who miss the vaccination, jaundice is a key symptom of HBV. Other clinical features in adults may include fever, and skin rash.

It's very important to get tested and vaccinated in time.

Transmission
The most common forms of transmission include through direct sexual contact, blood transfusions & transfusion with other human blood products, re-use of contaminated syringes and needle, and from mother to child during childbirth.

Treatment
Unlike HIV, HBV is treatable. However, treatments take very long ranging from 6months to 2years of strict anti-viral therapy. Please visit your doctor to discuss about treatment, don't patronize road size drug stores without diagnosis please.

Protection
Besides being extremely careful in everything, the only other protection is vaccination. Children born from 2008 are all protected from HBV because the HBV Vaccine is included in their vaccinations. If you are born before 2008, please endeavor to get vaccinated today.

World Hepatitis Day comes up 28th July, 2022.


#hepatitis #prevention #hbviral #hbvvaccine #emzorvaccines