It is surprising but not strange to find out that many people are still ignorant of this “silent walker” becoming more common among us now, Yes, am talking about the HEPATIS VIRUS. I say it is not surprising because most people in the African context do not seek to get information, if it is not that which brings some extra coins into their wallet. Talking to people amazed me as I got question like ” which new one is that ?”, “how does that one manifest?”, ” How and where is it gotten from?”. These are answers I got when I asked a couple of people aged 17 to 35years old if they have ever heard about Hepatitis.
About 70% said they have heard about it but do not know exactly what it’s all about. So conclusively,
there are still many people out there who have never heard of this, and so know neither what it is, how it is transmitted nor how it affects them or how it manifests, and there are others who have heard about it,but do not know what it is all about. To bring to our attention here, this virus is very dangerous and life threatening in most people. Getting the exact number of people infected is difficult because a greater portion of the infected are not aware they have infection since it presents with no signs and/or symptoms, though CDC estimates a total of 257 million people with chronic Hepatitis B(Hep B) world wide.
WHAT IS THIS HEPATITIS??
Hep is an inflammation of the liver, caused by either hepatotoxic substances like some drugs or alcohol and infections. So we have alcoholic and infectious Hepatitis.
The most common type of Hepatitis is infectious Hepatitis; viral Hepatitis. We have Hep A, B, C, D, E. Of all these, B and C are the most dangerous, but We will be talking about B.
Hep B is an infection of the liver, and it is termed either acute or chronic. When an individual is exposed to the virus, it takes averagely 90days for the appearance of the first sign/or symptom, though sometimes it takes about 8 weeks to 5months.
Once you are diagnosed of this virus within the period of 6months post infection, it is termed “Acute”. During this period, your immune system is expected to fight and kill the virus. Chances of success depend on the age and the immune system of the individual.
New borns who become infected with the hep B virus have 90% chances of developing severe health problems including liver damage, cancer and eventual death. Those between the ages of 5 and 12years have a 30%-50% chances of developing severe health problems including liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and eventual death. Older adults who become infected have up to 90% chances of recovering from the virus.
If your system is not able to fight off this virus during this acute phase,it is now termed “chronic”, and at this stage,you will have to live with the virus and adjust your life style in other to improve your quality of life and increase your life expectancy.
The virus is found in all body fluids including saliva, blood products, sweat, vaginal, anal and ejaculatory secretions, amiotic fluid and tears. Since it is found in these fluids,it therefore means that it can be transmitted via kissing, sexual intercourse (vaginal and anal), physical contact with the sweat of an infected individual, and blood products of an infected person as well. It can also be transmitted to babies while in the uterus since it crosses the placenta barrier and is found in the amiotic fluid.
When the virus enters the system of its host, it migrates straight to the liver where it attacks the liver cells(kuffer cells) and starts destroying them and causing the liver to increase in size(inflammation), this the name Hepatitis (medical name for liver inflammation). Since it is caused by the B strand of the Hepadnaviridae virus, it is this called Hepatitis B.
This virus is very stubborn and can stay out of its host for up to 7days or more, even when the body fluid carrying it dries off. It has hooks that permits it to anchors on any surface it finds itself on. It can not be killed by alcohol,be it 70% or 95% dilution. It is most often killed by javel water(la croix) in a dilution of 1 part to 10 parts of water.
The good news is that there is a vaccine against this virus, and also against hep A. There is also a combined vaccine for hep A $B. The vaccine is only taken after you have tested NEGATIVE for the virus, and it is taken over a period of 8 months( first dose is taken, then second dose 1 month after the first and third dose 6months after the second). There is another protocol which is followed and is taken within three months. The adult dose is 1ml(20ug) per dose. Four to six weeks after the vaccine, a control test is done to confirm the presence of antibodies against hep B in your system, and if not found,it may mean that your vaccination was not properly done. If done letter than 4-6weeks and antibodies not found,it may be an indication that the level may have risen and dropped post vaccination.
For those who get expose to the virus and their bodies fight it off successfully, they develop a natural immunity against the virus,in other words, natural vaccination. They also develop antibodies against the virus,and the next time they come in contact with the virus, their body fights and destroys them. For children born of infected mothers they are given Hep B immunoglobulin and a pediatric dose of the hep B vaccine within the next 24 hours after birth. After vaccination, you are covered for life,but may take a buster dose after about 10year, especially when you are traveling to an area with higher infection rate or when you are working in an environment where you are exposed and are at a greater risk, e.g health worker, sex workers, people with multiple sex partners.
Signs and symptoms when they are present include fever, tenderness over the liver, paper-white stool, jaundice(yellowish eyes) dark brown urine(like Coca-Cola) and acitis(advanced stage).
As of now, for those infected with this virus, there is NO CURE, but there are treatments. I have heard a couple calls from people dealing with the natural products talking about a cure for hepatitis,but I can’t confirm that because I have not seen anyone testifying to that yet. Once you are diagnosed and confirmed of hep B, the best thing to do is to start following a treatments. There are a couple of institutions around Douala and Yaounde following up patients with this condition.
Viral hepatitis is dangerous and kills. I have lost a couple of people I know to this virus. C is more virulent than B, and worse, it has no preventive vaccine.
Take care of your health and live a good life because life has no duplicate, and more over, HEALTH IS WEALTH.
SO IF YOU HAVE NEVER DONE YOUR TEST, DO IT NOW! GET VACCINATED AND STAY SAFE.
W.PROSPER.N
W.PROSPER.N's BLOG 