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.
