A Cross-Sectional Study on the Knowledge of Hepatitis B Infection among Dental Professionals

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B is an inflammatory disease of liver due to double stranded DNA virus of the hepadnaviridae, transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. Hepatitis B poses a major health concern and is the world's most common blood borne viral infection placing healthcare workers, medical and dental professionals at higher occupational risk and in India it is the second most common cause for acute hepatitis. To increase the awareness and knowledge about viral hepatitis WHO has declared 28 th July as the World Hepatitis Day/Eradication day. So the present survey was conducted to evaluate and compare the status of awareness of hepatitis B infection among dental practitioners and students.