It is a communicable liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). If infected, a person can develop an acute infection that can vary in severity from mild or asymptomatic to a severe illness requiring hospitalisation.
Acute hepatitis B manifests within the first 6 months following exposure to the virus. Some people are able to effectively fight the infection and eliminate the virus. In others, the infection persists (chronic B infection), and in 15-25% of cases, this leads to serious problems over time such as: chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma.
HBV is usually transmitted when the blood, semen, vaginal fluids or other body fluids of an infected person come into contact with a susceptible person. The virus is highly contagious (50-100 times more than HIV) and penetrates through the mucous membranes or skin lacerations.
The infection can be contracted through:
HBV is not transmitted through sneezing, coughing, hugging or breastfeeding. Even though the virus can be found in saliva, it is not believed to be transmitted by kissing or sharing eating or drinking utensils.
Unlike other forms of hepatitis, HBV is not transmitted by contaminated water or food. The Hepatitis B virus can survive in the environment for up to 7 days; during this time, the virus can cause infection if it penetrates a susceptible person’s body.
It is not compulsory, but recommended according to a person’s exposure to biological/zoonotic risks ...
A pre-/vaccination check for HBsAg antibodies should be done before administering the vaccine.
The Hepatitis B vaccine consists of the recombinant surface antigen of the Hepatitis B virus. The virus is produced by genetic engineering procedures on yeast cells. The administration is intramuscular, and the site is the deltoid region.
The vaccination consists of 3 doses: the second one is administered 1 month after the first, and the third, 6 months after the first.
Italian Ministerial Decree of 20/11/2000 “Protocol for administering the hepatitis B vaccination” reiterates that the protection conferred by the vaccination, after demonstrating a measurable response at the end of the primary cycle, persists even in the absence of antibodies with a detectable titre.
Vaccination against hepatitis B is generally well tolerated. A local reaction (redness, discomfort, swelling) may appear at the injection site (1 out of 10 people). General reactions such as a headache, tiredness or fever are even rarer and disappear in 1-3 days.
The Hepatitis B vaccine must not be administered to individuals with known hypersensitivity to the vaccine components or to individuals who have shown signs of hypersensitivity after the vaccine was previously administered. Similarly to other vaccines, administration of the vaccine should be postponed in individuals with acute febrile illnesses.