When talking about sexually transmitted infections, the most common diseases that come to mind are syphilis, gonorrhea and AIDS. Meanwhile, during sexual contact, one can become infected with bacteria, parasites and several dozen strains of pathogenic viruses, including hepatitis viruses (hepatitis) which are very dangerous for the body. Example? The hepatitis B virus is up to 100 times more infectious than HIV and can cause liver failure, cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma.
The material was created in cooperation with the organizer of the Yellow Week campaign
Known from biology lessons
The most frequently mentioned venereal diseases in biology or sexual education classes are: gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydiosis, trichomoniasis, herpes and AIDS. Unfortunately, these are just some of the risks of having sex without condoms. Sex is the perfect way for bacteria, viruses and parasites to spread. Therefore, the list of diseases that can be infected in this way is very long. In this context, particularly dangerous diseases include diseases with a long incubation period, in other words, hatching, the symptoms of which are not clearly associated with venereal diseases, which makes their diagnosis difficult. Such diseases include, inter alia, viral hepatitis.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B, also known as implantable jaundice, is caused by HBV (Hepatitis B Virus). This virus is characterized by a very high resistance to environmental factors and can survive outside the human body for up to seven days. It is found in body fluids: blood, saliva, semen and breast milk. Virus infection occurs due to the disruption of tissue continuity. Intentional, as is the case during surgical procedures, during blood collection or transfusion, and during dental procedures, or accidentally, e.g. during cosmetic procedures, during childbirth or during sexual intercourse.
Hepatitis B is difficult to detect because it can be completely asymptomatic, and sometimes the symptoms are not very characteristic. Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, lack of appetite, malaise, darker urine or gastrointestinal disorders not associated with HBV infection may occur. Therefore, the vast majority of people infected with HBV do not know that they are carriers, which does not mean that the virus does not progress. It affects human liver cells and can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure, and even to hepatocellular carcinoma. A complication after hepatitis B may be a blood clotting disorder, kidney damage or arthritis.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A, also called food jaundice or dirty hands disease, is an acute infectious disease caused by infection with the HAV virus (Heptitis A Virus). Around 1,4 million cases of hepatitis A occur annually in the world, especially in less developed countries with lower hygiene standards. In recent years, however, the number of hepatitis A cases has increased significantly, also in European countries. In Poland, as many as 2018 cases were recorded in 1457. For comparison – in 2016 there were only 35 of them.
Infection with the HAV virus most often occurs through the consumption of contaminated water (also in the form of ice cubes), or consumption of contaminated food (vegetables washed in contaminated water, seafood from contaminated waters), through direct contact with infected people, during sexual contact or as a result of tissue continuity violations. The virus hatch in the body for an average of 28 days (15 to 50) and after this time the first symptoms of inflammation begin to appear. A characteristic symptom is yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. In addition, there is weakness and malaise, fever, digestive system discomfort (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite), pain in muscles and joints. During this time, the urine is darker in color and the stools are discolored. Untreated hepatitis A can cause aplastic anemia, cholestasis, acute hemolytic anemia, kidney damage, and life-threatening hyperacute hepatitis.
Prevention of hepatitis A and B
Vaccination is the most effective weapon in the fight against viral hepatitis. In Poland, it was only from 1996 that compulsory vaccinations of newborns against hepatitis B were introduced. Previously, such vaccinations covered only children of mothers infected with HBV, health care workers and medical students. Unfortunately, many people born before 1986, those who are prime, socially active and sexually active are not vaccinated against hepatitis B. Currently, the compulsory hepatitis B vaccine is given to a child in three doses. The first one during the first 2 hours of life and the next in the 7nd and XNUMXth month of life. Vaccinations against hepatitis B are also compulsory for health care workers, people in care facilities and prisons, and people who may come into contact with people infected with HBV, who have not been vaccinated before, and people infected with hepatitis C. have benefited from compulsory vaccinations, and they want or should be vaccinated before the planned surgery, the vaccine against hepatitis B is not reimbursed.
Vaccination against hepatitis A is not compulsory, but it is recommended. The vaccine is administered intramuscularly in two doses at intervals of 6-12 months and protects us from HAV for over 20 years, and in some cases for life. They are especially recommended for children and adolescents attending kindergartens and schools who have not previously suffered from hepatitis A, as well as for people working in the production of food, health care workers. If we are not yet vaccinated against hepatitis, it is worth thinking about it, especially in the face of the upcoming “Yellow Week”.
More information: www.zoltytydzien.pl
The material was created in cooperation with the organizer of the Yellow Week campaign