Viral hepatitis and its vaccination

Hepatitis virus A (oral transmission)

Hepatitis virus B (parenteral transmission-injection)

Hepatitis virus C (parenteral transmission- e,g.injection)

Hepatitis virus E (oral transmission)

Viral hepatitis are common cause of jaundice in Bangladesh and other developing countries. There are several types of viruses responsible for hepatitis, they are type A, B, C, D, E, G etc. ( HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, HEV, HGV). Among these HAV and HEV are commonly transmitted through oral route with contaminated food, drinks or water because these two virus are excreted in the stool of infected persons. Virus is carried by flies from stool or by cockroach from toilet and these may contaminate foods /drinks easily. Virus may contaminate water due to leakage of sewerage line or due to improper purification of water collected from river. Ice cream or any drinks/food kept in refrigerator made from contaminated water without prior boiling can also transmit viral as well as bacterial diseases. HAV is excreted 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the onset of jaundice. So it can not be prevented easily. HBV,HCV and HDV are transmitted through parenteral route i.e, through blood transfusion or needle sharing and by sexual contact.

For the prevention of these diseases avoidance of open air defecation, use safe water for drinking or washing hands or utensil before eating ( not only filtered- but boiling or chlorination must) will prevent HAV or HEV infection. Vaccination for HAV is also available. For HBV vaccination is available and now it has been included in primary vaccination programme in Bangladesh recently.

Vaccination will prevent the respective viral disease against which vaccination has been given not the other viruses. From the above information it is clear that only two antiviral (hepatitis) vaccine are available in Bangladesh and also in other countries . So we must not feel safe after vaccination with these one or two types of antiviral vaccines, thinking, that viral hepatitis will occur no more. It should be noted that HCV is more dangerous than HBV and HEV is notorious than HAV.

So, we should be aware about the possible routes of transmission of viruses responsible for viral hepatitis or also other viruses and bacteria. We should not rely on vaccine only.