Are there non viral
hepatitides?
Hepatitis B is a chronic liver infection which leads to liver cancer, thus considered as fatal.
It is prevalent in Western Pacific region and African region where around 6 % adult population is infected.
Eastern Mediterranean Region has rate of around 3 % of total population, while South-East Asia Region and the European Region range fall around 2 % and 1.6% respectively.
As per WHO , in US 0.7 % population is infected by this disease.
Causal organism: Hepatitis B is viral and is caused by Hepatitis B virus.
Apart from conventional viral Hepatitis B, there are 3 other types of hepatitis which are non-viral.
Toxic hepatitis: Certain chemicals, drugs can cause toxic hepatitis.
Alcoholic hepatitis: This is caused by over consumption of alcohol.
Autoimmune hepatitis: This is caused by attack of immune system cell.
Modes of transmission for viral Hepatitis B : The virus can transfer from infected mother to child during birth.
It can also be transmitted via infected needles, used for tattooing, piercing, injections etc.
Infected blood and body fluids such as saliva, vaginal and seminal fluids also spread the infection.
Syringes which are repeatedly used without any sterilization in medical procedures can also spread the infection if it’s been used for infected person.
Mode of transmission for non-viral Hepatitis B : Non-viral hepatitis does not get transfer from person to person i.e. its non-contagious.
Symptoms: It can take 1- 6 months for appearance of symptoms. Symptoms includes jaundice, joint pain, persistent fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever.
It can also cause chronic liver infection leading to cirrhosis (a scarring of the liver) or liver cancer.
Treatment: There is no effective treatment for acute hepatitis B so far. Chronic hepatitis b can be treated with some medicines such as tenofovir or entecavir. Liver inflammation van be treated with Interferon alfa. Hepatitis vaccine is also available in order to prevent the disease.
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