Hepatitis B

Minority Women's Health > Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians > Health Topics > Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus called HBV that attacks the liver. The virus attacks the liver, scarring it and causing liver cancer and even death. You may have hepatitis B (and be spreading the disease) and not know it. Sometimes a person with HBV infection has no symptoms at all. Only a blood test can tell for sure. Symptoms can include:

eyes or skin turning yellow
loss of appetite
nausea, vomiting, fever, and stomach or joint pain
feeling very tired and not able to work for weeks or months

You get hepatitis B by direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. You can become infected by having sex or sharing needles with an infected person. Asian Americans account for over half of the hepatitis B cases in the U.S. Asians also have the highest rates of liver cancer. Your risk of getting the virus is higher if you were born in Southeast Asia or the Pacific Islands. Compared to the U.S. average, this disease is 25 to 75 times more common among Samoans and immigrants from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and China.

There are medications that can treat long-lasting HBV infection. These work for some people, but there is no cure for hepatitis B. Getting the hepatitis B vaccine is the best way to protect yourself. People who should get the vaccine include: all babies at birth, all children 0-18 years of age who have not been vaccinated, people of any age whose behavior puts them at high risk for HBV infection, and people whose jobs expose them to human blood.

If you have HBV in your blood, you can give hepatitis B to your baby. Babies who get HBV at birth may have the virus for the rest of their lives, can spread the disease, and can get cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Ask your doctor to be tested for HBV early in your pregnancy.

Publications

Frequently Asked Questions - Viral Hepatitis - This fact sheet explains viral hepatitis. It gives information on the symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and discusses the risks of spreading the disease to a child if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It also includes information on the hepatitis A and B vaccines.
http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/hepatitis.htm
Frequently Asked Questions About Hepatitis B - This publication contains common questions concerning hepatitis B, the hepatitis B vaccine, and hepatitis testing.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/b/faqb.htm
What I Need to Know About Hepatitis B - This easy-to-read publication provides an introduction to the risk factors, symptoms, and treatments for the liver disease, hepatitis B.
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepb_ez/index.htm
For Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer (Copyright © ALC) - This fact sheet explains why Asian Americans need to be aware of hepatitis B. It discusses the high incidence of hepatitis B among the Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) population, how hepatitis is transmitted, why it often goes undiagnosed, and how it is treated. It encourages Asians to get tested, vaccinated, screened, and seek help to prevent liver damage from hepatitis B.
http://liver.stanford.edu/Education/hepbpatients.html
Hepatitis B and Asian Americans (Copyright © American Liver Foundation) - This publication explains why Asian Americans are at a higher risk of contracting Hepatitis B, how Hepatitis B is spread and how it can be prevented.
http://www.thinkb.org/
Hepatitis B and You - Korean Language Version (Copyright © Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) - This fact sheet gives information in Korean for pregnant women who test positive for hepatitis B. It describes the disease and the steps you can take to protect your baby.
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/hepatitis/hepb/hbv_and_you_korean.pdf
Hepatitis B and You - Vietnamese Language Version (Copyright © Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) - This fact sheet gives information in Vietnamese for pregnant women who test positive for hepatitis B. It explains the disease and the steps you can take to protect your baby.
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/hepatitis/hepb/hbv_and_you_viet.pdf
Hepatitis B Information for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (Copyright © IAC) - This fact sheet provides background information on hepatitis B, provides statistics about hepatitis B occurrence in Asian American/Pacific Islanders, why it is a particular concern for this population, and what people can do to protect themselves and others from infection.
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/4190apia.htm
High Chronic Hepatitis B Rates Put Asians at Risk of Liver Cancer (Copyright © ACS) - This fact sheet discusses the high Hepatitis B rates among Asians.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_High_Chronic_Hepatitis_B_Rates...
What Every Asian and Pacific Islander Should Know about Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer (Copyright © Asian Liver Center) - This publication contains information for Asians and Pacific Islanders about the importance of getting tested and vaccinated for hepatitis B.
http://liver.stanford.edu/

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007