The Pathophysiology of Hepatitis B Essay -- Health, Diseases

Introduction Hepatitis B, an infectious complaint caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV, a DNA virus), was formerly called serum hepatitis, inoculation hepatitis and post-transfusion hepatitis. Infection with HBV whitethorn issue in acute, fulminant or chronic hepatitis, sometimes eve resulting in a chronic asymptomatic carrier state, apart from hepatocellular carcinoma and liver-colored cirrhosis (Davis 179). The disease is transmitted when an individual comes in contact with infect blood or objects. It may also be transferred from an infected become to her infant either during or after birth (Zuckerman et al. 211). Transmission may also occur by accidental inoculation from infected needles and infirmary equipment, intravenous drug abuse, body piercing, tattooing, and mouth-mouth kissing (Zuckerman et al. 210). The risk of Hepatitis B is particularly high in individuals with multiple sex partners, and in homosexuals. The HBV virus occurs in morphologically different forms in the serum of infected individuals. HBV infection has an pensiveness period of about 75 days. Systemic symptoms of the disease include fatigue, fever, dyspepsia, arthralgia, malaise, and rash, succession local symptoms include hepatomegaly, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stools (Davis 179 Zuckerman et al. 210). Anatomical/physiological/biochemical changes that lead to the disease Hepatitis B results from cellular injury to the liver, subsequently poignant its metabolic functions. However, the HBV is not cytopathic by itself. The pathogenesis of Hepatitis B occurs as a result of the interactions between the hosts repellent system and the virus. The host immune system targets HBV in liver cells (hepatocytes), inadvertently causing damage to the liver. HBV derived proteins (... ...BeAg), haematoidin level, and platelet count (Pyrsopoulos and Reddy). The disease prognosis can be through by calculating the prognostic index based on the locating of these six variables.ConclusionHBV infection is complex and affects a large state worldwide. The discovery of the Australia antigen (HBsAg) in 1965 by Blumberg et al. (1965) set the stage for rapid communicate in understanding and counteracting the disease (qtd in Zuckerman et al. 210). Liver function tests champion in estimating the extent of damage caused to the liver during HBV infection. Diagnosis is done by detecting viral specific antigens in the serum. Both active and resistless immunization options exist for disease prophylaxis. However, it is always best to practice attention over the parenteral, sexual and other routes of transmission of the disease for effective disease prevention and prophylaxis.