Health Updates
Hepatitis B on the Rise
When singer Naomi Judd was diagnosed with hepatitis back in 1994, she took a break from show business in order to fight her disease. Today she has made a full recovery and is a major supporter of hepatitis testing and vaccination. "I owe it to myself and my family to stay healthy," she has said. "You must get involved in your own health."
Naomi's message comes at an important time. Cases of hepatitis B and C are on the rise around the world. Both types of hepatitis can cause cancer of the liver. Researchers believe this is the reason behind the 70 percent rise in liver cancer cases over the last two to three decades.
What Is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver. It often leads to severe liver damage and liver cancer. More than 80,000 unvaccinated Americans are infected each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of these, 75 percent are between the ages of 15 and 39.
The disease kills more than 5,000 people in the United States each year. Many of these people were infected in their teens or their twenties.
There is no cure for hepatitis B. Once you are infected, the virus can remain in your body for the rest of your life. That means that even if you completely recover, you can still infect other people.
The "Silent" Disease
Hepatitis is on the rise because many people don't know they have it. Symptoms often do not show for several years. If they do, they may not arise until they become more severe and require hospitalization.
Some signs of the disease are loss of appetite, feeling tired, and stomach cramps. These symptoms are similar to those of the flu. People with hepatitis B may mistakenly believe they have the flu.
Hepatitis B is also very contagious—100 times more contagious than HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. A person infected with the disease could pass it along to other people without knowing it.
Get Hip to Hepatitis Dangers
The most important weapon against the spread of hepatitis B is prevention. Hepatitis B is the only sexually transmitted disease for which there is a vaccine. Most doctors now recommend that all newborns be vaccinated against the disease.
Many experts believe the vaccine should also be given to teens who were not vaccinated as babies. In fact, schools will often not admit a student if he or she has not received the hepatitis B vaccination.
You can also prevent getting or spreading the disease by avoiding well-known risk factors associated with its spread. These include the following:
- All sexual activity. In addition to blood, the virus is transmitted through body fluids. Thus, any sexual activity can lead to infection if one of the partners is infected.
- Using drugs. Intravenous drugs—ones injected by means of a needle—are the prime culprits, but all drugs are dangerous. People with non-IV drug habit often move on to harder stuff.
- Getting a tattoo or body piercing. Any invasion of the skin by a tainted needle can spread the disease. If you absolutely need to adorn your body, do it safely.
- Failing to wash hands before and after any contact with bodily fluids.
Just the Facts
- Why is hepatitis B called the "silent" disease?
- How is hepatitis B transmitted?
Beyond the Facts
- Name three risk ways of preventing yourself and those you care about from becoming victims of the deadly hepatitis B virus.
- Hepatitis B has been referred to in the popular press as "the next AIDS." From what you know or have learned about HIV/AIDS, tell whether you think this is an apt comparison. Support your conclusion with facts about both diseases.
Applying the Facts
The hepatitis B vaccine is not without controversy. Some parents and experts believe it makes some children seriously ill. They think it endangers people while creating huge profits for vaccine manufacturers. Using print or online resources, find out more about both sides of the issue. Present your findings in a brief written report.
