- Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a serious disease
caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The virus, which is called hepatitis
B virus (HBV), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the
liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. Hepatitis B vaccine is available
for all age groups to prevent hepatitis B virus infection.
| CLINICAL
FEATURES |
- Jaundice, fatigue,
abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent nausea, vomiting.
|
| ETIOLOGIC
AGENT |
|
| INCIDENCE |
- 140,000-320,000
infections/yr in United States
- 70,000-160,000
symptomatic infections/yr
|
| SEQUELAE |
- Of symptomatic
infections, 8400-19,000 hospitalizations/yr and 140-320 (0.2%)
deaths/yr;
- Of all infections,
8,000-32,000 (6%-10%) chronic infections/yr, and 5,000-6,000 deaths/yr
from chronic liver disease including primary liver cancer
|
| PREVALENCE |
- Estimated 1-1.25
million chronically infected Americans
|
| COSTS |
- Estimated $700
million (1991 dollars)/yr (medical and work loss)
|
| TRANSMISSION |
- Bloodborne
- sexual
- perinatal
|
| RISK
GROUPS |
- Injection drug
users
- Sexually
active heterosexuals
- Homosexual
men
- Infants/children
of immigrants from disease-endemic areas
|
- Low socioeconomic
level
- Sexual/household
contacts of infected persons
- Infants born
to infected mothers
- Health care
workers
- Hemodialysis
patients
|
| SURVEILLANCE
|
- National Notifiable
Diseases Surveillance System
- Viral Hepatitis
Surveillance Program
- Sentinel Counties
Studies
|
| TRENDS |
- Incidence increased
through 1985 and then declined 55% through 1993 because of wider
use of vaccine among adults, modification of high-risk practices,
and possibly a decrease in the number of susceptible persons.
Since 1993, increases observed among the three major risk groups:
sexually active heterosexuals, homosexual men, and injection drug
users.
|
| PREVENTION |
- Hepatitis
B vaccine available since 1982
- Screening pregnant
women and treatment of infants born to infected women
- Routine vaccination
of infants and 11-12 year olds
- Catch-up vaccination
of high-risk groups of all ages
- Screening of
blood/organ/tissue donors
|
Table from the CDC
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|