...Benchmark Assignment: The Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Andrea Elena Medina Grand Canyon University: NRS-427V Concepts in Community and Public Health Thursday, December 08, 2015 Benchmark Assignment: The Epidemiology of Hepatitis B A major global health issue impacting the international health community is Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is viral condition that injures the liver due to the attempt to eliminate the virus, leading to progressive liver disease and cirrhosis (Hepatitis B (HBV, Hep B), 2014). The incidence of cirrhosis developing in people with chronic HBV is 8-20% (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2013; European Association for the Study of the Liver, 2012); the annual incidence of HBV-related liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, is 2-5% of people with cirrhosis (EASL, 2012). A person infected with Hepatitis B can transmit the virus to another person who hasn’t been affected by Hepatitis B in several ways. People can become infected with the virus when they come into contact with contaminated blood, semen and when other body fluids mix with the uninfected person’s body fluids. Examples of transmission occur from sexual contact, blood transfusion before the year 1992, sharing of needles or syringes, and from mother to baby at birth. Hepatitis B can be an acute, or short-term, illness for some people but for others, it can often lead to a lifelong chronic infection. The risk for chronic infection is related to a person’s age at the time of infection:...
Words: 1759 - Pages: 8
...developments in the evaluation and treatment of chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) based on articles published between December 2010 and January 2012. The article informs the reader of the natural history, screenings and vaccination, treatment indications and endpoints about Hepatitis B. In this article it gives a breakdown of all the new advances with Hepatitis B. This article will review the new recommendations for screening for Hepatitis B and for first-line antiviral medications to use for treatment. The article also gives information on the updated evidenced-based guidelines for the management of chronic Hepatitis B virus. Disease in the News It is estimated that over 350 million persons are infected with chronic Hepatitis B worldwide resulting in 600,000 deaths each year from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. As over 90% of infected newborns will develop chronic hepatitis, efforts for eradication have focused on universal vaccination and screening those born in endemic areas. Despite the availability of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine since 1981, over 4000 cases of acute Hepatitis B virus are still being diagnosed in the United States each year and more than 700,000 have chronic Hepatitis B (CHB). Currently there are seven approved Hepatitis B therapies that can manage 95% of chronic Hepatitis B cases yet 67% of US patients and nearly 90% of European patients are unaware of their infection, highlighting the need for increased awareness and treatment to prevent deaths. (Tujios &...
Words: 906 - Pages: 4
...Communicable Disease: Hepatitis B Communicable diseases are diseases that can be transmitted via contact, droplet, air/food borne, blood, bodily fluids or congenital infection and cause individuals to become ill. The pathogens invade the body and damage normal cell functions, which could potentially cause death. Hepatitis B has infected over 200 billion people worldwide and killed over one million individuals per year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2013). The hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be prevented through education, spreading awareness and getting vaccinated which provides a lifetime of protection. Description of Hepatitis B Hepatitis B is a viral infection that is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. Acute HBV lasts less than six months and ones immune system is able to fight and clear the infection. Chronic HBV lasts longer than six months and the immune system is unable to fight the infection leading to liver failure, cancer or cirrhosis. Occasionally chronic HBV can go undetected for years due to a person being asymptomatic (Mayo Clinic, 2011). Mode of Transmission In highly infected areas of the world, HBV is most commonly spread from mother to her baby at birth or from person to person in early childhood (World Health Organization [WHO], 2013). The HBV is also spread via parenteral contact with infected blood or blood products, sharing of or accidental needle sticks and having...
Words: 1463 - Pages: 6
...such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, HIV, and influenza are all communicable diseases, meaning they can be spread from one person or thing to the next. This writing will present hepatitis B and how it affects individuals and the community. The roll of the community health nurse will be discussed in regards to hepatitis B. Description of Hepatitis Hepatitis is simply an inflammation of the liver that is typically caused by a virus. It can be infectious or non-infectious. Viral hepatitis is contagious and is caused from a viral infection leading to liver inflammation. There are two types of hepatitis B. Acute hepatitis B is short lived, and chronic hepatitis B which produces long-term illness. Individuals who are exposed to hepatitis B in infancy or childhood likely will develop chronic hepatitis. Those who are exposed as adults will develop antibodies and typically have an acute hepatitis infection. Hepatitis B is contracted when a person comes in contact with infected blood semen or other body fluids enters their bodies. If a person has an exposure to hepatitis B, hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) can be given to suppress the development of the disease. In an acute infection, symptoms that can be experienced include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, fatigue, dark urine, joint pain, jaundice, anorexia and clay-colored stools. The symptoms usually show up with in the first six months after the exposure and can last up to six months long. Chronic hepatitis B does...
Words: 1200 - Pages: 5
...issues going on in our society today, (i.e. the rapid ascend of technology, awareness of major diseases, etc.) Thinking about what diseases I was familiar with, I remembered taking a glimpse of a Hepatitis B billboard campaign right around the block from where I live; this is how the topic of my project “Hepatitis B Awareness” unfolded. Once I concluded that hepatitis B was going to be my topic, finding information and resources for the hepatitis B virus was fairly easy, given that our society is more pro-health than ever. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was one of the organizations that provided me with hepatitis B information such as: how it affects the liver, how you can or can’t get it, how you can treat or prevent it, what types there are, the symptoms, how fast you can get it, how you can get tested for it, and the statistics all the way from the 1980’s to present-day. Though, the statistical information that all my resources provided me with were fluctuant between each other, the numbers were all in the same ballpark; therefore, I was able to come up with accurate estimations. Factual information from CDC provided my essay with a back bone, steered me in the right direction and helped give my essay some fluff. My essay now gives the reader information about the reality of having the hepatitis B disease, its dreadfulness, and how they can take action. In addition to the hepatitis B information acknowledged in my essay, I created a pamphlet in...
Words: 413 - Pages: 2
...Some interesting facts about the liver; it weighs under five pounds, it has a shape like a half football and everyone is born with one. Just like most other disease or disorder, if the liver has not been taken care of properly there are many negative outcomes that can affect and destroy the liver. There are many complications when the liver is abused or damage for example cancer, hemochromatosis, gallbladder or even liver cirrhosis (Lee, 2014). We will be focusing more about liver cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis has been the 12th leading cause of death in the United States in 2010 (Murphy, Xu, & Kochenek, 2013). We will primarily focus on liver cirrhosis also known as Hepatitis C, provide you with general information as well as the possible solutions, data regarding the infected population and giving some resources/awareness about this disease. To start is to give information about liver cirrhosis. This disease causes the liver to be scarred and damaged. The liver is damaged with scar tissue in and around the liver as new cells are trying to restructure but instead they turn into regenerated nodules (Lee, 2014). The redeveloped nodules are what give the physical features of the liver cirrhosis. A small brief history on this disease. Liver cirrhosis has been around for many years, but how it got the name was in 1819, by French psychiatrist, Rene Laennec (Roguin, 2006). During that year, Rene was actually studying and listening to sounds around the heart and came across liver cirrhosis...
Words: 1105 - Pages: 5
...Running head: EPIDEMIOLOGY PAPER - HEPATITIS B 1 Epidemiology Paper - Hepatitis B Concepts in Community and Public Health NRS-427V-0102 EPIDEMIOLOGY PAPER - HEPATITIS B Epidemiology Paper - Hepatitis B 2 ―Communicable disease‖ means an illness caused by an infectious agent or its toxins that occurs through the direct or indirect transmission of the infectious agent or its products from an infected individual or via an animal, vector or the inanimate environment to a susceptible animal or human host‖ ("CDC," 2010, p. 1). Hepatitis B is one of the communicable diseases which are a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). CAUSES ―Exposure may occur: After a needle stick or sharps injury - Hepatitis B is a concern for health care workers and anyone else who comes in contact with human blood If any blood or other body fluid touches your skin, eyes or mouth People who may be at risk of hepatitis B are those who: Unprotected sex with an infected partner – one may become infected having unprotected sexual contact with an infected partner whose blood, saliva, semen or vaginal secretions enter your body. Receive blood transfusions (not common in the United States) Have contact with blood at work (such as health care workers) Have been on long-term kidney dialysis Get a tattoo or acupuncture with unclean needles Share needles during drug use - HBV is easily transmitted through needles and syringes contaminated...
Words: 3278 - Pages: 14
...Hepatitis is a term that simply means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis may be caused by a virus or a toxin such as alcohol. There are other viruses that can injury the liver cells they are hepatitis A and hepatitis C viruses, These viruses are not related to each other or to hepatitis B virus and they differ in their structure, also in the way they are spread among individuals, also in the severity of symptoms that they can cause along with the way they are treated. In the United States alone the rates of new infection were the highest among people aged 25to 44 years and lowest among those younger than 15 years of age. This reflects that the major of transmission of hepatitis B is through sexual transmission, illicit drug use, and exposure to infected blood. The good news is that there has been a 75% decrease in newly diagnosed cases of hepatitis B during the past decade. The decrease is attributed to increased vaccination and heightened public awareness of HIV/ AIDS this has resulted in safer sexual practices. When a person first gets hepatitis B this is an ‘acute’ infection. Most people are able to let the virus run its course and this will cure the infection. Then there are some which can not clear the infection this is called ‘chronic hepatitis B this usually life-long. Hepatitis B is spread mainly by exposure to infected blood or body secretion in the infected individual. The virus can be found in semen, vaginal discharge, Breast milk, and saliva. Hepatitis B...
Words: 744 - Pages: 3
...Hepatitis Cancer Patient Information Glenda Aldape HCA/240 December 6, 2012 Pukar Ratti Hepatitis B is the most common liver infection in the world. Worldwide, about 350 million people are chronic carriers of HBV (Hepatitis B Virus), among these carriers, more than 620,000 die from liver-related diseases each year. In the United States, hepatitis B mainly affects adults aged between 20-50 years. About 800,000 to 1.4 million Americans are chronic hepatitis B virus carriers, and the disease causes about 3,000 deaths each year. The good news is that infection with HBV is usually preventable because there is an effective vaccine. Use of the vaccine has resulted in an 82% decrease in the number of new infections reported in the United States each year. (www.emedicinehealth.com/hepatitis/article_em.htm) Figure 1: Estimated and reported cases of hepatitis B in the United States. Rates have fallen significantly since 1991 when routine vaccination of children was started. (www.emedicinehealth.com/hepatitis/article_em.htm) Hepatitis B is an infectious hepatitis caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). This infection has two possible phases; 1) acute, 2) chronic. Acute hepatitis B refers to newly acquired infections. Affected individuals notice symptoms approximately 1 to 4 months after exposure to the virus. In most people with acute hepatitis, symptoms resolve over weeks to months and they are cured of the infection. However, a small number of people develop a very severe, life-threatening...
Words: 1144 - Pages: 5
...and Infectious Diseases Chronic and infectious diseases are diseases life threatening. A chronic diseases are non-communicable illnesses prolonged in duration, do not resolve spontaneously, and are rarely cured completely such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). However, an infectious disease or communicable disease is contagious and caused by a biological agent, such as a virus, bacterium, or parasite also known as pathogens (The Metro Health System, 2002-2012). There are some diseases, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Characteristics of a chronic disease, examining the relationship between a healthy nutritional diet, and cardiovascular disease, the effects of chronic, and infectious diseases, how exercise affects the immune system, and consumer awareness are the focus of this paper. Characteristics of a Chronic Disease Chronic diseases are often hard to detect because the disease spread slowly. According to UCLA Center for Neurovisceral Sciences and Women's Health (n.d.), “chronic illnesses also have multiple causes varying over time, including heredity, lifestyle factors, exposure to environmental factors and physiological factors” (Chronic Illness). Individuals who smoke cigarettes put him or her at risk of several types of chronic illnesses. “Cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for lower extremity arterial...
Words: 1000 - Pages: 4
...Benchmark Assignment: Epidemiology Paper Grand Canyon University Concepts in Community and Public Health NRS-427V-0501 Benchmark Assignment: Epidemiology Paper Hepatitis B The definition for Hepatitis changes with whom you ask. To some it means a horrible painful way to die while others are able to look at it as a disease. The word Hepatitis means liver inflamation. The liver is a large, glandular, reddish-brown organ located in the upper right side of the abdomen. It consists of 5 lobes and secretes bile into the gallbladder and into the small intestine and aids in the digestion of lipids. Hepatitis is often caused by a virus. Hepatitis A, B, and C are the most common types in the United States but there is also a type D, E, and there was thought to be an F but after a thorough investigation they failed to prove its existence. Hepatitis B (HBV) is a liver disease that is contagious. It is believed that approximately 1.2 to 1.4 million people in the United States have chronic Hepatitis many of which are not officially diagnosed. There are two stages or categories of Hepatitis B, chronic and acute. Chronic Hepatitis B is anyone who has had the virus for longer than 6 months ("Hepatitis B," 2010) and at this point it is considered a lifelong illness. The beginning or acute phase of Hepatitis B is the first 6 months of being exposed to the virus. During this first 6 months some people are able to fight the infection off and get rid of it. Symptoms may vary...
Words: 1444 - Pages: 6
...various illnesses have not only medical stresses but also social economic and moral problems. HIV-AIDS can have devastating consequences on affected individuals and their support systems. It is a stigmatized illness and people who suffer from this illness are likely to be discriminated against by people in society as well as institutions. Aids/HIV was typically mostly associated mostly with the gay community and drug addicted individuals. During the 1970’s and the 1980’s, Hepatitis B was a major concern in the united states. The disease seemed easily spreadable by individuals in what seemed to be countless ways. People can contract Hepatitis B by even touching someone else blood, sharing someone else cup or just being exposed to the same surface that an HB carrier was in contact with. One of the major groups that are at risk of contracting and spreading the infection are the health professional such as doctors, inters, dentists, surgeons and nurses. A dentist, for example, who is an Hepatitis B carrier has a chance of passing on the disease to a patient. Hospital administrations and other agencies immediately recognized the potential danger of the above at risk population. They wanted to “down play” the danger of the risk of infection to spear themselves lawsuits and to avoid public panic. Public panic has the potential of causing havoc in the professional field. Hence, it was falsely concluded that health care workers carriers were not a major source of infection...
Words: 1059 - Pages: 5
...Communicable Disease-Hepatitis C Shrunda Young HCS/457 March 25, 2015 Dr. Janice Chilton Communicable Disease-Hepatitis C Hepatitis C is a communicable disease that is a contagious liver infection. In 1989, hepatitis C virus was discovered. Previously, it was related with blood transfusion and was called non-A and non-B hepatitis because virus was not identified. Hepatitis C disease varies from one person to another. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread through contact with blood of an infected person. Hepatitis C can be “acute” or chronic”. Identify the environment factor related to this disease. People that contract the Hepatitis C virus age range are from 18-72 years old. Patient exposed to Hepatitis C virus used injectable drugs, body piercing, shared razors and toothbrushes, occupation exposure such as needle stick, and exposure to major amount of blood such as from working in an emergency room or administering first aid. Hepatitis C can be contracted through sexual intercourse and oral. In many case studies, people that have Hepatitis C tends accelerate the disease by smoking cigarettes marijuana and alcohol. This tend to be a threat in the environment by reducing the rate Explain the influences of lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and disease management. The influence of lifestyle, socioeconomic status and disease management with hepatitis c is watching diet and alcohol consumption. Alcohol with people with Hepatitis is very dangerous due to it affecting...
Words: 976 - Pages: 4
... Colleen Darrow RN June 28, 2014 Epidemiology Paper “World wide, two billion people have been infected with hepatitis B Virus” (Shepard & Simard, 2006, p. 112) Hepatitis B virus cause liver tissue infections which is life threatening potentially. And both acute and chronic hepatitis B has a profound impact on global health. “More than 240 million people have chronic liver infections, and more than 780,000 people die every year due to the acute or chronic consequences of hepatitis B.”("WHO Media Center," 2014) The HBV is transmitted from an infected carrier to the others via contact with blood and other body fluid. Hepatitis B is also a major occupational hazard for health workers. Fortunately the infection can be effectively prevented by safe vaccine. Since 1982, safe Hepatitis B vaccine has been available; the effectiveness of preventing the infection and its long-term consequences has been established. Hepatitis B vaccine is the first vaccine which against a major human cancer. “HBV infection may result in subclinical or asymptomatic infection, acute self-limited hepatitis, or fulminant hepatitis requiring liver transplant.” (Shepard & Simard, 2006, p. 113) The average incubation period is 90 days for a newly infected person who may develop acute hepatitis. The common signs and symptoms for acute hepatitis are nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, jaundice, dark urine, changes in stool color, and etc. If the presence of HBsAg in the...
Words: 1309 - Pages: 6
...Communicable Disease-Hepatitis C Shrunda Young HCS/457 March 25, 2015 Dr. Janice Chilton Communicable Disease-Hepatitis C Hepatitis C is a communicable disease that is a contagious liver infection. In 1989, hepatitis C virus was discovered. Previously, it was related with blood transfusion and was called non-A and non-B hepatitis because virus was not identified. Hepatitis C disease varies from one person to another. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread through contact with blood of an infected person. Hepatitis C can be “acute” or chronic”. Identify the environment factor related to this disease. People that contract the Hepatitis C virus age range are from 18-72 years old. Patient exposed to Hepatitis C virus used injectable drugs, body piercing, shared razors and toothbrushes, occupation exposure such as needle stick, and exposure to major amount of blood such as from working in an emergency room or administering first aid. Hepatitis C can be contracted through sexual intercourse and oral. In many case studies, people that have Hepatitis C tends accelerate the disease by smoking cigarettes marijuana and alcohol. This tend to be a threat in the environment by reducing the rate Explain the influences of lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and disease management. The influence of lifestyle, socioeconomic status and disease management with hepatitis c is watching diet and alcohol consumption. Alcohol with people with Hepatitis is very dangerous due to it affecting...
Words: 976 - Pages: 4
