Hepatitis B – Blood Borne Virus

By: Ira Hope, RN

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that targets the liver and causes both acute and chronic disease.According to the World Health Organization, about 2 billion people worldwide have been infected with the virus and about 350 million live with chronic infection. About 600,000 people die annually due to Hepatitis B infection. 25% of the people infected with this type of hepatitis will probably have liver cirrhosis when they age.

When compared to HIV, this is 50 times more prevalent and a occupational health hazard for medical personnel. A vaccine specific to this type of virus is readily available for optimum protection.

Common modes of transmission:

  • perinatal (from mother to baby at birth)
  • early childhood infections (inapparent infection through close interpersonal contact with infected household contacts)
  • unsafe injections practices
  • blood transfusions
  • sexual contact

Cause:
Contact with blood or body fluids with persons with Hepatitis B.
This is not transmitted with casual contact with infected persons.

Signs and Symptoms:

  1. yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
  2. dark urine
  3. extreme fatigue
  4. nausea
  5. vomiting
  6. abdominal pain

Complications:

  1. Liver Cancer
  2. Liver Cirrhosis

Medical Management:

  1. Management of pain and other associated symptoms.
  2. Adequate nutritional balance, including replacement of fluids that are lost from vomiting and diarrhea are implemented too.
  3. Chronic hepatitis B can be treated with  interferon and anti-viral agents.

Nursing Management:

  1. Educate would-be parents that infants should have the hepatitis B vaccine. this is the mainstay of hepatitis B prevention.
  2. Inform that the certain protection may last for almost 20 years, updates of screening must be done.
  3. For blood donors, proper screening must be done in order to be sure that the blood being donated is Hepatitis B virus free.
  4. Assist in administration of Hepatitis B immuno globulin.
  5. Teach clients proper handling of blood and body fluids as well as practice of correct hand washing.
  6. Encourage clients to use yellow-colored garbage bag as a sign of infectious waste which is universally recognized.
  7. For persons diagnosed to be positive with Hepatitis B, assist in feeding them with small frequent meals containing high-calorie, low-fat diet.
  8. Listen to the family and the client as to any concerns about the alterations in the daily living due to the disease process.

Photo credits: www.nlm.nih.gov

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19 thoughts on “Hepatitis B – Blood Borne Virus

  1. Supportive care:

    – encourage the pt. To eat meals in a sitting position to reduce pressure on the liver.

    – encourage pleasing meals in an environment with minimal noxious stimuli (odors, noise, interruptions).

    – administer or teach self-administration of antiemetics as prescribe. Avoid phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, which have colestatic effect and may cause or women jaundice.

    – encourage frequent oral fluids

    – encourage rest during symptomatic phase

  2. Symptoms-jaundice are the most common symptom of hep-b(the skin nd white of eyes appear yellow)
    Tiredness
    Mild fever
    Loss of appetite,nausea nd vomiting
    Constant discomfort on the right side of abdomen under the rib cage,where liver is located
    Diarrhoea
    Constipation
    Muscle ache or joint pain
    Skin rashes

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