Hepatitis B: Everything you need to know

Hepatitis B is a severe liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). People of all ages are vulnerable to this virus. Dr. BN Singh, General Physician of Mayom Hospital explains, “This is a “chronic” infection which can lead to liver cancer, liver cirrhosis, and even death in some cases.” This virus is present in the blood and other body fluids of infected people. Most commonly, it is spread through sexual contact, by sharing needles or from an HBV-infected mother to her infant. HBV can also be spread through customary household contact with HBV-infected people. Here are the some common facts about Hepatitis B that you need to know.

• 1.       The hepatitis B vaccine prevents liver cancer.
• 2.       Adults age 19 through 59 with diabetes are more prone to develop acute hepatitis B infection.
• 3.       Hepatitis B infections have slumped significantly since 1991 when a strategy to eradicate HBV transmission through immunization was initiated. 
• 4.       A projected 800,000 to 1.4 million people in India have chronic HBV infection.
• 5.       Babies born to hepatitis B-infected women are highly prone to get this infection from their mothers in case they don’t receive their first hepatitis B vaccination and immune globulin (IG) at birth.
• 6.       If hepatitis B vaccination were routinely offered to people, more than 50 percent of new hepatitis B cases could have been prevented.
• 7.       The hepatitis B virus is 100 times more infectious than HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
• 8.       Even if a person infected with hepatitis B virus does not feel unwell, he or she can still transmit this disease to others.
• 9.       Hepatitis B virus is found in blood and other body fluids like semen and vaginal secretions. 
• 1.   Although, Hepatitis B is a sexually-transmitted disease, but it can also be transmitted by regular household contact with an infected person.

Hepatitis B virus infection can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine. You cannot get hepatitis B from the hepatitis B vaccine. The hepatitis B vaccine is the best way to prevent infection. The vaccine is a series of 3 or 4 shots. Adults at risk and all babies, children, and teenagers should be vaccinated.

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