Hepatitis B Infection
Introduction
Hepatitis B infection is one of the major and common liver infectious diseases worldwide, and caused by a small enveloped DNA virus, the hepatitis B virus (HBV). (Tong 2005Int J med Sci) Importantly, over 20 million people are infected annually with HBV and there are globally 350-400 million chronic carrier of HBV. (McMahon 2005.) Routes of infection include vertical transmission (through childbirth), early life horizontal transmission (bites, lesions, and sanitary habits), and adult horizontal transmission (sexual contact, intravenous drug use). (CusterJClin Gastroenterol 2004)
Indeed, the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum is the first seromarker to indicate active HBV infection, either acute or chronic. (Horvat RT et al. Washington D.C: ASM Press; 2003) Although, other HBV infection serological markers are anti-HBs, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), antibodies against the HBV core (anti-HBc) and those to the "e" antigens (anti-HBe), and HBV DNA. These marker scans can be used for diagnosis and determining the severity of the infection. (Japhet. journal, 2011) …show more content…
(Lavanchy D. (2004) J Viral Hepat.) Iran has been known as an intermediate-prevalence area of the infection i.e. 2% to 7% HBsAg positivity. The first estimate of the prevalence of HBV infection, about 30 years ago, indicated that approximately 35% of Iranians are exposed to HBV and 3% are chronic carriers. (Farzadegan Ann Acad Med Singapore 1980.) However, a recent systematic review study cleared that, HBV infection prevalence in the Iranian general population is estimated amount 2.14%. (Alavian SM, Hajariazdeh
Hepatitis B infection is one of the major and common liver infectious diseases worldwide, and caused by a small enveloped DNA virus, the hepatitis B virus (HBV). (Tong 2005Int J med Sci) Importantly, over 20 million people are infected annually with HBV and there are globally 350-400 million chronic carrier of HBV. (McMahon 2005.) Routes of infection include vertical transmission (through childbirth), early life horizontal transmission (bites, lesions, and sanitary habits), and adult horizontal transmission (sexual contact, intravenous drug use). (CusterJClin Gastroenterol 2004)
Indeed, the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum is the first seromarker to indicate active HBV infection, either acute or chronic. (Horvat RT et al. Washington D.C: ASM Press; 2003) Although, other HBV infection serological markers are anti-HBs, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), antibodies against the HBV core (anti-HBc) and those to the "e" antigens (anti-HBe), and HBV DNA. These marker scans can be used for diagnosis and determining the severity of the infection. (Japhet. journal, 2011) …show more content…
(Lavanchy D. (2004) J Viral Hepat.) Iran has been known as an intermediate-prevalence area of the infection i.e. 2% to 7% HBsAg positivity. The first estimate of the prevalence of HBV infection, about 30 years ago, indicated that approximately 35% of Iranians are exposed to HBV and 3% are chronic carriers. (Farzadegan Ann Acad Med Singapore 1980.) However, a recent systematic review study cleared that, HBV infection prevalence in the Iranian general population is estimated amount 2.14%. (Alavian SM, Hajariazdeh