Hepatitis B Can Be Prevented With A Highly Effective Vaccine, But This

yearten to thirty million people will become infected with the hepatitis B virus. I feel
that because this disease is preventable, only knowledge can help reduce the
number of people infected.

Hepatitis B is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. This
virus is a blood-borne pathogen. It is one hundred times more infectious than
HIV. “Hepatitis B is one of the most frequently reported vaccine preventable
diseases in the United States,” according to the Centers for Disease Control.

This disease is transmitted through oral, vaginal, and anal sex. You can
also acquire the disease through sharing needles, toothbrushes, and razors, or if
you come in contact with infected blood. For these reasons, the people at the
highest risk of contracting the disease are: anyone who is sexually active;
health, dental, and emergency workers; adoptive families with children form
Asia, Africa, South America, Eastern and Mediterranean Europe (as these areas
have a high number of people infected); drug users; and anyone in close contact
with someone infected. This is not as scary as it seems, for you cannot contract
the virus through sneezing, coughing, or holding hands.

A surprising fact about hepatitis B, considering it is preventable, is that
one in twenty people are or will be infected in their lifetime. There are one
million people infected in the United States. More than 350 million people
worldwide are chronic carriers of the virus. A chronic carrier is someone with the
virus in their blood, and can who can pass the disease to others.

Fifty percent of those infected with the virus (a.k.a. HBV) do not develop
symptoms. HBV is often called the “Silent Infection”. Another forty nine percent
experience fevers, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Many people think that it is
just the flu and ignore their symptoms. Some other symptoms include abdominal
pain or swelling, jaundice, dark colored urine or light colored bowel movements.

The other one percent develops acute fulminant hepatitis. Of those infected with
it, sixty to ninety percent of all cases result in fatalities. It is characterized by
fatigue- most often resulting in collapsing, and jaundice- yellowing of the skin
due liver malfunctions.

There is no medical treatment for hepatitis. Although, with bed rest ninety
percent of those infected will develop antibodies and fight off the disease. If the
body fails to fight it off, some (five to ten percent) will develop chronic hepatitis.

These people have an increased risk of liver problems, like cirrhosis (hardening
of the liver) and liver cancer. Some chronic cases will need liver transplants.

There is no cure for hepatitis B, but there are some drugs to help. Interferon
helps to quicken the rates of remission. There are also two drugs that are in the
last phase of FDA approval- lamivudine and famciclovir. These are thought to
be available toward the end of the year.

If you have contracted HBV, you should immediately contact a doctor, and
get regular checkups. If you are pregnant you should make sure to tell your
doctor so they can protect your baby. Also, make sure close contacts are
vaccinated. And most of all- no alcohol, because it will further damage your
liver.

There is only one sure way to protect yourself- get vaccinated. The
vaccine is very safe and effective. It is in the form of three shots, given over a
period of six months. The shots can be given at a doctor’s office or at school
clinics.

One very informative source is The Hepatitis B Foundation. The address
is:
700 East Butler Avenue
Doylestown, PA 18901
(215) 489-4900
For additional help contact your doctor.

Hepatitis B is a very infectious disease, but the most important thing to
remember is that it can be prevented with three simple shots. There is no
excuse as to why anyone should not be vaccinated!