From the @PianetaSalute archive Dr. Pietro Lampertico Director of Gastroenterology at the IRCSS Ca' Granda Foundation Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico in Milan, talks to us about chronic hepatitis B due to HBV infection. It is a disease that affects approximately 300 million people worldwide, with most cases concentrated in Asia and Africa, where transmission occurs at birth or at a young age in a family environment. In the West, infection occurs more commonly during adolescence or adulthood through risky sexual contact or sharing needles. In Italy, hepatitis B virus affects approximately 300,000-600,000 people and can cause complications such as liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma or even death. In Italy, mandatory vaccination for infants and 12-year-olds has increased vaccination coverage to over 90% and has protected most Italians from hepatitis B infection. However, there are still many patients who were infected before vaccination became available, and the arrival of migrants with a higher prevalence of hepatitis B has increased the spread of the virus in Italy. The recommended treatment for chronic hepatitis B includes antiviral treatment to block the progression of the disease to complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. #hepatitisB #HBV #chronichepatitis ????️ Don't miss our videos, subscribe to the channel and activate the bell to receive all the notifications about new content! ????️ ********************* ???? Follow us! WebTV: http://PianetaSalute.TV Magazine: https://www.PianetaSalute.online Instagram: / PlanetSalute2.0 Twitter: / PlanetSalute Facebook: / PlanetSalute Linkedin: / Planet-salute-agenzia-di-stampa-tv WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDP... Telegram: https://t.me/pianetasalute Digital terrestrial: National channel 221 Pianeta Salute TV English: The video is about hepatitis B, a chronic liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The virus is prevalent in many parts of the world, especially in Asia and Africa, where the majority of patients are infected at birth through vertical transmission from their mother, or through family contact. In contrast, in the West, the infection is usually acquired during adolescence or adulthood, through high-risk sexual contact, the sharing of infected needles among drug users, or through other body fluid exchanges. In Italy, hepatitis B affects around 300,000 to 600,000 people and is a potentially progressive disease that can lead to serious complications such as cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death in some patients. The majority of infections in Italy are due to intra-family transmission or through medical instruments. In the past, when medical instruments and healthcare were not as advanced as they are now, Italy was one of the first countries to introduce mandatory vaccination in newborns and children up to 12 years of age, making Italy one of the states with the most widespread vaccination coverage, with over 90% of Italians aged 30 to 35 being vaccinated. However, the disease is still a major problem in Italy for three reasons: first, many patients were infected with the virus before the availability of vaccination; second, some Italian citizens over the age of 35 may come into contact with the virus and become infected; and third, there has been a recent change in the epidemiology in Italy due to the arrival of migrants who have a higher prevalence of hepatitis B, around 5-8%, compared to 0.8% in Italy, meaning that these migrants are bringing the disease with them. The incubation period for the virus ranges from 2 to 3 months after exposure, and the symptoms can range from asymptomatic to symptomatic, with general malaise, high fever, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, joint and muscle pain, and other symptoms. Acute hepatitis B can progress to chronic hepatitis B when the patient tests positive for the virus for more than 6 months. International guidelines from the last 20 years recommend antiviral treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis caused by the virus, in order to block the viral replication and prevent the progression of the disease towards complications such as cirrhosis or primary liver cancer. The goal of blocking the viral replication can be achieved through two different strategies: in about 10% of patients, interferon, a commonly used drug, cannot be used; and in the remaining 90%, antiviral drugs can be used to achieve a sustained response.