The mysterious Hepatitis outbreak in children around the world
- April 28, 2022
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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The mysterious Hepatitis outbreak in children around the world
Subject: Science & Tech
Context- A series of unexplained cases of Hepatitis B in children has taken over the world. Many countries including the US and UK reported mysterious cases of a few children being diagnosed with Hepatitis B.
Concept-
What is Hepatitis B?
- Hepatitis B is an infection in the liver which happens because of the Hepatitis B virus or HBV.
- Type 41 adenovirus is suspected of causing Hepatitis B in children.
- The virus usually spreads through blood, semen or other body fluids.
- The virus is most commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth and delivery, as well as through contact with blood or other body fluids.
- It is the primary cause of liver cancer.
- It can be prevented or protected against through vaccination.
- The most common symptoms of Hepatitis B are jaundice, fever, fatigue that lasts for weeks or even months, vomiting, loss of appetite, and pain in joints or belly.
- It’s commonly caused by a viral infection, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis. These include autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis that occurs as a secondary result of medications, drugs, toxins, and alcohol.
- Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease that occurs when your body makes antibodies against your liver tissue.
Hepatitis A
- It is an infectious disease of the liver that is caused by the Hepatitis A virus.
- It is acute and in most of cases, symptoms could not be recognized in young people.
- Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, fever, severe abdominal pain, jaundice, weakness, and these symptoms might last longer till eight weeks.
- It is transmitted to others by contaminated food, water, and by being in close contact with the infected person.
- Hepatitis A vaccine helps in preventing disease.
- Hepatitis A is always an acute, short-term disease.
Hepatitis C
- It is an infection that is caused by the Hepatitis C virus in the liver.
- This can be transferred from needles that have been infected, at the time of birth (i.e. transmitted from infected mother to child), through body fluids of an infected person, having sex with multiple partners specifically with HIV-infected persons.
- It is also rarely found in semen and vaginal fluids.
- It does not spread through food or water.
- There is no known vaccine for hepatitis C.
Hepatitis D
- It is one of the severe liver diseases that are caused by the virus Hepatitis D (HDV).
- It spreads from infected blood or wound.
- Hepatitis D is a rare form of hepatitis that only occurs in conjunction with hepatitis B infection.
- The hepatitis D virus can’t multiply without the presence of hepatitis B.
Hepatitis E
- Hepatitis E is a waterborne disease caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV).
- It might be circulated through food, water, and contaminated blood.
- Hepatitis E is mainly found in areas with poor sanitation and typically results from ingesting fecal matter that contaminates the water supply. It could be either acute or chronic.