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Hepatitis
What is it?
The hepatitis B virus can cause an acute illness that resolves itself quickly
without causing long-term liver damage. However, it can also cause a chronic illness
that lasts more than six months, sometimes for life, with symptoms that come and go.
This may cause cirrosis and liver cancer..
What Causes it?
Hepatitis B virus is most commonly transmitted through blood-to-blood contact.
This may be through unprotected sexual intercourse, the sharing of
contaminated needles by drugs users, accidental injury with a contaminated needle,
if needles used for tattooing, body piercing or acupuncture
are contaminated, and sharing razors.
The Vaccine.
Hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective, but should not be seen as an
alternative to a strategy of prevention of transmission.
It is recommended for:
Those who may be exposed to blood or blood products through their occupation e.g. health care workers, ambulance crews, carers of high-risk or known patients, and morticians.
Travellers who intend to stay for long periods in high prevalence areas.
Those considered to be at risk of Hepatitis B through their planned activities, e.g. volunteers undertaking manual work, contact sports, casual sex
Young children who may be in close contact with the local population and therefore at risk of cuts and scratches.
Travellers with pre-existing medical conditions who may be at higher risk of requiring medical procedures abroad, e.g. pregnancy. (Pregnancy is not a contraindication to immunisation.)
Haemophiliacs requiring treatment.
Prisoners and prison officers.
All pregnant women should be screened for HBV.
If positive the baby should receive vaccination soon after birth using an accelerated schedule. This is 95% effective in preventing chronic infection in the baby. The sexual partner and any existing children should also be immunised.
Immunisation schedule
The standard course of immunisation involves 3 injections at 0,1 and 6 months.
An accelerated course of 0,1 and 2 months is possible,
also for combined Hepatitia Aand B vaccines.
Adults who need protection very quickly can have
a schedule of 0,7 and 21 days.
The vaccine is administered intramuscularly, usually into the deltoid muscle.
After an accelerated course a booster at 1 year is recommended.
Adverse Reactions
As with all vaccinations there are risks and some adverse reactions may occur.
Possible allergens in the vaccine are:
♦ The adjuvant - aluminium hydroxide
♦ The preservative – thiomersal
♦ Yeast protein
♦ Hepatitis 'B' surface antigen.
The possible adverse reactions are
Reported Reactions have been
Anaphylactic Reactions
Localised Oedema
Rash
Localised reactions
Gastro-intestinal
Headache
Flu like symptoms
Neurological disorders
Sudden Infant Death
MS
ME
Rheumatoid Arthritis
