Prevention of viral hepatitis

Infectious diseases are currently the most common among all known pathologies. The main direction in preventing the development of infectious diseases today is vaccination. This is especially true for diseases with high contagiousness and resistance of the viral agent (causative agent) in the external environment.

Prevention of viral hepatitis can be represented by both specific and non-specific forms. Specific (it's immunoprophylaxis) is reduced to carrying out the appropriate vaccinations. The latter are performed according to the mandatory calendar of preventive vaccinations. However, not for all viral hepatitis there is specific prevention, for example, against hepatitis C vaccine does not exist.

Nonspecific prophylaxis of viral hepatitis reduces to observing the rules of personal hygiene, as well as to protection during sexual intercourse (the use of condoms). Necessity of the latter is due to the possibility of viral particles to penetrate through the mucous membranes, microscopic damage to the epithelium. Caution should be shown for any damage to the skin (from piercings and injections to surgical operations).

Prevention of hepatitis B is reduced to a three-time vaccination within six months. In addition, after a long time, as well as with decreasing postvaccinal immunity, revaccination is performed.

Unlike B, C and D, viral hepatitis A is an acute disease and proceeds in a clinically pronounced form (icterus of the skin and sclera). After the transferred disease, stable immunity forms.

Hepatitis B and C are chronic and can be latent (that is, without severe clinical manifestations). Such features of infection significantly complicate both the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Later, the detection of this pathology leads to difficulties in treatment. A long-term disease without treatment leads to the formation of severe complications - fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver. The latter, by the way, are incurable, gradual progression of them leads to the formation of severe manifestations of the disease (jaundice, ascites and others).

Especially important is the prevention of viral hepatitis in contact with a sick person. First of all, it is connected with the same observance of the rules of personal hygiene, as well as with the emergency vaccination against hepatitis.

Diagnosis of viral hepatitis does not present any complications and is performed both on the basis of changes in the level of hepatic enzymes, and through the detection of appropriate antibodies (immunoglobulins) in the blood .

In case of occurrence of foci of viral hepatitis of group A, isolation and treatment of patients, chamber disinfection of objects of their use, observation of contact persons for thirty-five days (the time of maximum incubation of infection) is carried out. If the contact persons were children under the age of fourteen years old or pregnant women, the prevention of viral hepatitis is mandatory carried out by intramuscular injection of an immunoglobulin in the volume of 0.5-1.5 milliliters (taking into account the age of the vaccinated). It should be noted that this procedure should be carried out within seven to ten days after contact with the patient.

Thus, today the prophylaxis of hepatitis is based on its elements of specific prevention (vaccines and vaccines). Also, it is essential to comply with personal hygiene rules in violation of the integrity of the skin, as well as in the conduct of appropriate medical manipulations.