Hepatitis – Be Positive

Hepatitis B is a life-threatening liver disease caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). According to WHO reports it is a major global health issue with two million people being infected with HBV and 360 million people being afflicted with long- term liver infections.


Hepatitis B is more prevalent in China, the Indian subcontinent and other parts of Asia. It is also prevalent in the Amazonian regions and parts of central and Eastern Europe. In affluent countries of the US and Europe the incidence of the infection has significantly reduced due to widespread HBV vaccination programs.

Hepatitis B is the most serious of all forms of hepatitis. Infection during childhood is always followed by a chronic condition during adulthood. The clinical spectrum associated with adult infection ranges from a self limiting acute stage with complete viral clearance (in the majority) to a symptom-free carrier state which can progress to a chronic state that puts the patients (5-10%) at a higher risk of developing cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Viral determinants and the immuno-competence of the patients have been implicated in the progression of the disease.

Modes of Transmission

HBV is a virus that is more potent than the HIV with a mode of transmission similar to the AIDS virus. It is transmitted by coming in contact with the infected person’s body fluids such as blood or semen. Some of the common methods of transmission include-

• Mother to baby (peri-natal)

• Childhood infections (interpersonal associations)

• Using infected injection needles

• Blood transfusions