Hepatitis B is an inflammation of the liver, caused by the Hepatitis B virus[1], and characterized by diffuse or patchy areas of necrosis[2]. Hepatitis studies that classified the types of Hepatitis began after World War II (1945)[3] just over 70 years ago. Two decades later in 1967, Krugman studies found Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B[3]. Another ten years later, the Prince studies found the specific virus surface antigen that causes Hepatitis B[3].
Taxonomically classified in the Hepadnaviridae family, the Hepatitis B virus mostly affects the liver, but may also affect the kidney, pancreas and mononuclear cells[3]. Structurally, the virus is a double-shelled particle, with an outer lipoprotein envelope that has 3 surface antigens[3]. Replication of the virus occurs via replication in host cells, and the pathophysiology of the immune response is not completely understood.[3] Hepatitis B …show more content…
The symptoms experienced may depend on age, as infants less than one year of age have a chance of >1% of producing symptoms, while patients older than five years old have a 30-50% chance of becoming symptomatic.[4] Another factor to the symptoms that are manifested is the stage of the infection. Hepatitis is broken down into three stages: the incubation phase, where the virus replicates and the patient is generally asymptomatic; the preicteric phase, where the patient experiences nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, headaches, nausea and vomiting; and the icteric phase, which occurs in roughly 50% of patients, which consists of jaundice and hepatomegaly that can be felt on examination.[2][6] Other signs and symptoms that may be present throughout infection with the virus include anorexia, malaise, macular rashes, thrombocytopenia, fever, pain localized to the right upper quadrant, and pale urine with dark
Taxonomically classified in the Hepadnaviridae family, the Hepatitis B virus mostly affects the liver, but may also affect the kidney, pancreas and mononuclear cells[3]. Structurally, the virus is a double-shelled particle, with an outer lipoprotein envelope that has 3 surface antigens[3]. Replication of the virus occurs via replication in host cells, and the pathophysiology of the immune response is not completely understood.[3] Hepatitis B …show more content…
The symptoms experienced may depend on age, as infants less than one year of age have a chance of >1% of producing symptoms, while patients older than five years old have a 30-50% chance of becoming symptomatic.[4] Another factor to the symptoms that are manifested is the stage of the infection. Hepatitis is broken down into three stages: the incubation phase, where the virus replicates and the patient is generally asymptomatic; the preicteric phase, where the patient experiences nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, headaches, nausea and vomiting; and the icteric phase, which occurs in roughly 50% of patients, which consists of jaundice and hepatomegaly that can be felt on examination.[2][6] Other signs and symptoms that may be present throughout infection with the virus include anorexia, malaise, macular rashes, thrombocytopenia, fever, pain localized to the right upper quadrant, and pale urine with dark