Hepatitis B : Diagnosis and Management Strategies

The key points regarding the diagnosis of hepatitis B highlight the complexity and necessity of laboratory testing due to the inability to distinguish it clinically from hepatitis caused by other viruses.

1. Necessity of Laboratory Confirmation: Clinical symptoms alone are insufficient to differentiate hepatitis B from other viral hepatitis types. Laboratory tests are essential for accurate diagnosis.

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3. Types of Laboratory Tests: Various blood tests are used to diagnose and monitor hepatitis B. Some tests distinguish between acute and chronic infections, while others assess the severity of liver disease.

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5. Assessment of Liver Damage: In addition to blood tests, physical examinations, ultrasound, and fibroscan are employed to evaluate the extent of liver fibrosis and scarring, and to monitor the progression of the disease.

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7. WHO Recommendations on Blood Safety: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends testing all blood donations for hepatitis B to ensure blood safety and prevent accidental transmission.

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9. Awareness and Treatment Statistics (as of 2019): Only 30.4 million people (10.5% of those living with hepatitis B) were aware of their infection, and a smaller fraction (6.6 million, or 22% of those diagnosed) were receiving treatment.

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11. Reduction in Chronic Infection in Children: The proportion of children under...