USES: This combination medication is used to help prevent infection from the hepatitis A and B viruses. Hepatitis A infection can be mild with no symptoms or a severe illness that can rarely cause liver failure and death. Hepatitis B infection can cause serious problems including liver failure, persistent hepatitis B infection, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Preventing infection with these viruses can prevent these problems.Hepatitis A/B combination vaccine is made from whole, killed hepatitis A virus and a genetically engineered (man-made in the laboratory) piece of hepatitis B virus. It does not contain live virus, so you can not get hepatitis from the vaccine. This vaccine causes the body to make immune defensive substances (antibodies) against hepatitis A and B viruses that can protect you from infection with them. Hepatitis A/B vaccine does not protect you from other virus infections (e.g., HIV virus which causes AIDS, hepatitis C/E, HPV virus which causes genital warts and other problems).The vaccine is recommended for persons at an increased risk of getting these infections. Those at an increased risk include health care personnel, laboratory workers who handle blood and patient specimens, police, fire and emergency medical personnel who give first aid treatment, hemophiliacs, dialysis patients, household and intimate contacts of persons with persistent hepatitis B or active hepatitis A infections, persons with multiple sex partners, men who have sex with men, sex workers, injection drug abusers, and persons traveling to high-risk areas.
HOW TO USE: Read the Vaccine Information Statement available from your health care provider before receiving the vaccine. If you have any questions, consult your health care provider.This vaccine is usually given by injection into the shoulder muscle by a health care professional. Hepatitis A/B vaccine is a slightly milky, white suspension. Before giving this medication, inspect it visually for particles or discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid. Shake the vial or prefilled syringe well before giving the dose. Do not dilute. Use the full recommended dose of the vaccine. Discard any remaining vaccine left in single-dose vials.A series of 3 injections is usually given over 6 months. Your doctor will give you a vaccination schedule, which must be followed closely for best effectiveness. If you have an infection with fever at the time a vaccination is scheduled, your doctor may choose to delay the injection until you are better.Dosage is based on your age. Different brands of hepatitis A/B vaccine are available for different ages and may be given differently.If you are receiving the first hepatitis A/B vaccine injection at a time when your doctor feels you may have been exposed to either hepatitis A or B, you will also receive an injection of immune globulin. Immune globulin is a dose of antibodies against the viruses and will immediately help protect you from developing an infection. These antibodies only last a few months. For long-term protection, it is important to follow your vaccination schedule exactly.
Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs,
are infections that are transmitted during any type of sexual exposure,
including intercourse (vaginal or anal), oral sex, and the sharing of sexual
devices, such as vibrators. Women can contract all of the STDs, but may have no symptoms, or have different symptoms than men do.
Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver due to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is usually spread by
blood transfusion, hemodialysis, and needle sticks, especially with intravenous
drug abuse. Chronic hepatitis C may be treated with interferon, usually in combination with anti-virals.
The hepatitis B virus is a unique, coated DNA virus belonging to the Hepadnaviridae family of viruses. The course of the virus is determined primarily by the age at which the infection is acquired and the interaction between the virus and the body's immune system. Successful treatment is associated with a reduction in liver injury and fibrosis (scarring), a decreased likelihood of developing cirrhosis and its complications, including liver cancer, and a prolonged survival.
Hepatitis is most often viral, due to infection with one of the hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D, E, F (not confirmed), and G) or another virus (such as those that cause infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus disease). The main nonviral causes of hepatitis are alcohol and drugs. Many patients infected with hepatitis A, B, and C have few or no symptoms of illness. For those who do develop symptoms of viral hepatitis, the most common are flu- like symptoms including: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever, weakness, tiredness, and aching in the abdomen. Treatment of viral hepatitis is dependant on the type of hepatitis.
Burns are categorized by severity as first, second, or third degree. First degree burns are similar to a painful sunburn. The damage is more severe with second degree burns, leading to blistering and more intense pain. The skin turns white and loses sensation with third degree burns. Burn treatment depends upon the location, total burn area, and intensity of the burn.
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are the two most commnon viruses that infect the liver. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B can be prevented and treated with immunizations (vaccinations) such as Havrix, Vaqta, Twinrix, Comvax, Pediarix, and hepatitis b immune globulin (HBIG).
The term 'hepatitis' simply means
inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis may be
caused by a virus or a toxin such as alcohol. Other viruses that can cause
injury to liver cells include the hepatitis A and
hepatitis C viruses. These
viruses are not related to each other or to hepatitis B virus and differ in
their structure, the ways they are spread among individuals, the severity of
symptoms they can cause, the way they are treated, and the outcome of the
infection.
What is the scope of the problem?
Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the
hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is estimated that 350 million individuals worldwide
are infected with the virus, which causes 620,000 deaths worldwide each year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 46,000 new cases of hepatitis B
occurred in the United States in 2006.
In the United States, rates of new infection were highest
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