Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) virus belongs to family hepadnaviridae which includes two genera; orthohepadnavirus (infecting mammals) of which hepatitis B virus is the prototype, and avihepadnavirus (infecting birds) of which DHBV is the prototype.
HBV infection affects approximately two billion people worldwide at some point of their lives; among whom 350 million suffer from chronicity of this infection becoming a carrier of this virus.
HBV has been found in virtually all body secretions and excretions. HBV is transmitted primarily through:
• Birth to an infected mother. Between 80–90% of infants infected during the first year of life develop chronic infection.
• Sexual contact with an infected person
• Sharing contaminated needles, syringes, or other injection-drug equipment
• Hepatitis B can also be transmitted through medical and dental procedures, tattooing, piercing, sharing personal hygiene items, razors, and manicure and pedicure material contaminated with infected blood.
HBV is not spread through breastmilk, food or water or by casual contact such as hugging, kissing or sharing food or drinks with an infected person.
Hepatitis B infection acquired in adulthood leads to chronic hepatitis in less than 5% of cases, whereas infection in infancy and early childhood leads to chronic hepatitis in about 95% of cases.
Hepatitis B transmission
