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 (pathogen) in the external environment.
Prevention of viral hepatitis can be represented by both specific and non-specific forms. Specific (aka immunoprophylaxis) comes down to the appropriate vaccinations. The latter are carried out according to the mandatory calendar of preventive vaccinations. However, not all viral hepatitis has specific prophylaxis; for example, there is no vaccine against hepatitis C.
Nonspecific prophylaxis of viral hepatitis comes down to compliance with personal hygiene rules , as well as protection during sexual intercourse (using condoms). The need for the latter is due to the ability of viral particles to penetrate through the mucous membranes, microscopic damage to the epithelium. Caution must be exercised in case of any damage to the skin (from piercings and injections to surgery).
Prevention of hepatitis B comes down to a three-fold vaccination within six months. In addition, after a long time, as well as with a decrease in post-vaccination immunity, revaccination is carried out.
Unlike B, C and D, viral hepatitis A is an acute disease and proceeds in a clinically pronounced form (yellowness of the skin and sclera). After the disease, a stable immunity is formed.
Hepatitis B and C are chronic and can occur latently (i.e. without pronounced clinical manifestations). Such features of the infection significantly complicate both the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Late detection of this pathology leads to difficulties in treatment. A long-term illness without treatment leads to the formation of serious complications - fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver. The latter, by the way, are incurable, their gradual progression leads to the formation of severe manifestations of the disease (jaundice, ascites and others).
Especially important is the prevention of viral hepatitis in people contacting a sick person. First of all, it is associated with the same observance of personal hygiene rules, as well as with the urgent vaccination against hepatitis.
Diagnosis of viral hepatitis does not present any difficulties and is performed both on the basis of changes in the level of hepatic enzymes, and due to the detection of the corresponding antibodies (immunoglobulins) in the blood .
In the event of foci of group A viral hepatitis, isolation and treatment of patients is carried out, chamber disinfection of household items, observation of contact persons for thirty-five days (time of maximum incubation of the infection). If the contacts were children under the age of fourteen or pregnant women, the prevention of viral hepatitis is mandatory by intramuscular injection of immunoglobulin in the amount of 0.5-1.5 milliliters (taking into account the age of the vaccine). It is worth noting that this procedure should be performed within seven to ten days after contact with the sick.
Thus, today hepatitis prophylaxis is presented basically as elements of specific prophylaxis (vaccinations and vaccines). Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene in violation of the integrity of the skin, as well as during appropriate medical procedures, is also essential.