http://austinpublishinggroup.com/austin-hepatology/
Viralhepatitis is a major health problem worldwide. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is of
the greatest concern due to its burden of illness and death. WHO and the U.S
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that over 500 million people are
currently living with chronic viral hepatitis and globally around 2 billion
people have been infected with hepatitis B virus with around 1 million people
die every year due to complications of hepatitis B, including cirrhosis and
liver cancer. HBV can cause both acute and chronic diseases. Hepatitis B virus
is 50-100 times more infectious than human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 10
times more infectious than hepatitis C virus (HCV) and an infectious dose is so
low that a contaminated razor or blade can easily transmit the infection.
Thehepatitis B virus can survive in the environment for at least 7 days. During
this time, the virus can still cause infection if it enters the body of a
person who is not protected by the vaccine. It can also spread by percutaneous
or mucosal exposure to infected blood and various body fluids, as well as
through saliva, menstrual, vaginal, and seminal fluids. Infection in adulthood
leads to chronic hepatitis in less than 5% of cases. In addition, infection can
occur during medical, surgical and dental procedures, through tattooing, or
through the use of razors and similar objects that are contaminated with
infected blood or during barbershop shaving.
Razorsharing and shaves from the barbers have been identified as an important risk
factors for blood-borne viruses spread as several investigations carried out
all over the world demonstrate this facts. In
many parts of Africa and Asia, the widespread cultural practice of shaving at a
shop or roadside barber is an underestimated route of blood-borne viral disease
transmission. For barbers, the use of blades and razors is part of their
occupation, which can expose them to blood of customers while shaving and hair
cutting. This exposure can put them at risk of many blood-borne diseases
including viral hepatitis.
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