Hep B Flashcards
What is the incubation period of Hep B
6 weeks to 6 month
What is the median incubation time
2.5 months
Complications of Hep B
Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular carcinoma
How is Hep B transmitted
Mother to child, blood, sexual contact
Hep B in the dental surgery
Contaminated sharps, blood & saliva contamination of open wounds, HBV is stable on environmental surfaces
Protection of HBV in dental practice
PPE, Vaccination, cross infection
What is the Hep B vaccine composed of
HbSAg
Antigens in the Hep B virus
HbsAg, HbcAg, HbeAg
What is an antigen
A molecule that produces an immune response
Two types of antibodies
IgM, IgG
What does each antibody show
IgM - Initial antibody made, recent infection
IgG - After B cells refine, infection was some time ago
What does HBsAg in the blood show
Infectivity of blood
What does HBeAg in the blood show
Active infection and high transmissibility
What does HBcAg in the blood show
Does not appear in serum as it is contained within the viral envelope
What does HBcAb IgM in the blood show
Early stages of infection
What does HBcAb IgG in the blood show
Appears after IgM and remains for life - infection was some time ago
What does HBeAb in the blood show
Naturally acquired HBV infection
What antibody level is considered protective
10 international units/ litre or above (IU/L) - long term protection
Less than this = not protective
