Hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection in the world and can estimated one third of the Global Population has been infected with the Hepatitis B virus. Therefore it continues to be a major global health problem. (WHO, 2009) This infection is highly prevalent to the third world countries which include the Philippines. It is caused by the Hepatitis B virus that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. A single virus particle can cause the disease. In fact the Hepatitis B virus is 50 to 100 times more infectious than human mmunodeficiency virus.
It is easily transmitted through infected blood and other body fluids like seminal fluid, vaginal secretions, breast milk, tears, saliva and open sores. The virus can survive outside the body for at least 7 days. During that time, the virus can still cause infection if it enters the body of a person who is not infected. Hepatitis B is not transmitted through casual contact and by eating contaminated food. (WHO, 2009) The purpose of conducting this study is to determine the impact to he lifestyle of a person acquiring Hepatitis B virus.
Hepatitis B occurs anywhere at any time, it increases in places with high population density. Poor hygiene health care workers are at high risk for acquiring the disease because of their close contact with the blood of carriers. Person who have had multiple Blood Transfusions or Dialysis care also have the disease. Homosexual men, morticians, people who undergo tattooing and IV drug users are also at high risk of acquiring Hepatitis B. Clients and carriers are the major sources of Hepatitis B virus. The major mode of transmission is when contact with any body fluids of an infected person, these include saliva and semen. Black, Hawks, Keene. 2001) The virus has a bigger chance to occur in a populated area. The virus can be transmitted through blood contact and also by other body fluids such as saliva and semen. Health care workers having poor hygiene, homosexual men, morticians, IV drug users, and people who undergo tattooing are at high risk for acquiring the virus. Hepatitis B is transmitted by the body fluid of infected people, anything that can pierce the skin nd contact with the vascular system are potential sources of contamination.
Some donor-related precautions of Hepatitis B are screening of donor’s blood, antibody to Hepatitis B core antigen, antibody to anti-hepatitis B, use of volunteer instead of paid donors, registration of carriers, sharing of accurate records between institutions and testing of all pregnant women for Hepatitis B serum antigen. (Black, Hawk, Keene. 2001) The only way Hepatitis B is transferred by the body fluid infected people or hat we call serum and also pointed objects that can pierce the skin and can contact with the vascular system are possible sources of contamination.
Hepatitis B can also be transmitted by donating blood and use of volunteered blood donors instead of paid donors. Hepatitis can be either acute or chronic. Acute Viral Hepatitis is the first period after having the infection and symptoms. The symptoms can range from subclinical asymptomatic infections to fatal acute infection. Chronic Hepatitis is considered to last greater than six months. It is identified by etiology, histology, and
