AFRICAN PEACE MAGAZINE MARCH ISSUE

HEPATITIS B INFECTION
A SILENT KILLER DISEASE
Beware!-It spreads faster than AIDS and has no Definite Cure
HEALTH
What is hepa s B?
It is a systemic disease caused by Hepa s B virus; it is primarily
associated with the viruses incriminated in viral Hepa s
(inflamma on or swelling of the liver due to viral infec on).
The liver is the biggest organ in the human body; it serves as a
workshop where the metabolic func ons of the body are carried out
and that includes the manufacturing of protein and other chemicals
that are essen al for the healthy growth and defense mechanism of
the body, removal of poisonous substances from the body through
the process of detoxifica on and a lot more. The liver is a very tough
and resilient organ and is able to withstand all the assaults to be able
to carry out its ac vi es but it can be overwhelmed when its
integrity is compromised as a result of the infec on with such as the
HBV.
Hepa s B infec on is a great threat to humanity, unfortunately
because of the current sensa onal nature of the HIV/AIDS pandemic
people in the general popula on especially in developing countries
in Africa are hardly aware of the life threatening danger this illness
presents. The capacity of Hepa s B to progress to chronic infec on,
cirrhosis and ul mately liver cancer is frightening and everybody
should take possible steps to curtail the disease and fortunately most
efforts made to prevent HIV transmission will also prevent Hepa s
B infec on to a large extent.
How does it spread?
Hepa s B is about 300 mes more infec ous than AIDS, that
sounds incredible but it is true; the preponderance of the viral
replica on is that high and the HBV can survive rela ve adverse
condi ons for a long me of which such as HIV cannot. The chief
source of the infec on is human blood and other body fluids such as
semen, vaginal discharges and secre on from wound--You can get
Hepa s B in four ways
1. Through transfusion of blood and blood products or through
infected syringes during ta ooing, acupuncture and drug abuse.
2. Contact with blood or other body fluid.
3. From an infected mother to a newborn.
4. From an infected sexual partner.
Who can be infected?
Almost anyone, nobody is safe from this silent killer disease; Doctors, Nurses, Construc on workers, whichever works
of life with children being the worst affected, their exposure to HBV can prove to be serious especially for those less
than seven (7) years of age.
How do you know you have hepa s B?
In spite of being infected with the virus, you may not show any signs of the disease un l very late, different people will
show different symptoms and one in three falls seriously ill which is why it is called silent killer disease. Ini al
symptoms of weakness, redness, body ache, fever, nausea and vomi ng, diarrhea, mild abdominal pains, loss of
appe te that may progress to jaundice, yellowing of skin and eyes, pale feaces and dark urine.
While many pa ents recover without major problem, some suffer a severe a ack of fulminate Hepa s which can be
fatal. You also become a silent carrier if the virus is not completely eliminated. In the absence of any specific symptom
Hepa s B o en goes undiagnosed and the only way to be absolutely sure is a blood test called Hepa s B surface
an gen (HBsAg) test
AFRICAN PEACE MAGAZINE / 31