Viral hepatitis: a challenge for nursing - Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem
Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem. 01-01-2017;70(2):231-232
The 20th century unveiled the mystery of the etiology of viral hepatitis, with the identification of five different agents responsible for these infections: the hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV). These viruses account for one million deaths every year. HBV, HCV and HDV cause acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, whereas HAV and HEV cause self-limited liver disease. More recently, cases of chronic hepatitis E have been reported in transplant patients. Also, the risk of fulminant hepatitis is greater among pregnant women.
The creation of the HBV vaccine in 1981 and the gradual adoption by World Health Organization Member States have contributed to reducing this infection among humankind(). In addition to the vaccine, the availability of antiviral drugs to treat chronic hepatitis B has reduced the burden of this disease. Considering that HDV is defective and depends upon HBV for replication and maintaining itself in the host cell, it has also presented a downward trend in countries that adopted the HBV vaccine.
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The 20th century unveiled the mystery of the etiology of viral hepatitis, with the identification of five different agents responsible for these infections: the hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV). These viruses account for one million deaths every year. HBV, HCV and HDV cause acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, whereas HAV and HEV cause self-limited liver disease. More recently, cases of chronic hepatitis E have been reported in transplant patients. Also, the risk of fulminant hepatitis is greater among pregnant women.
The creation of the HBV vaccine in 1981 and the gradual adoption by World Health Organization Member States have contributed to reducing this infection among humankind(). In addition to the vaccine, the availability of antiviral drugs to treat chronic hepatitis B has reduced the burden of this disease. Considering that HDV is defective and depends upon HBV for replication and maintaining itself in the host cell, it has also presented a downward trend in countries that adopted the HBV vaccine.
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