Download Hepatitis B among Asian Americans

Hepatitis B among Asian Americans 2012
By: Wendy Carpio
H
epatitis B is a liver disease caused
infection and can lead to cirrhosis (scarring
by infection with Hepatitis B
of liver), liver failure, and liver cancer later
virus (HBV). HBV infection can
in life. Chronic HBV infection develops in
cause lifelong liver damage and even death.
many as 9 to 10 infected infants, 3 out 10
HBV infection is common in many places
young children, and about 2 out of 100
throughout the world, including Asia, the
infected adults. HBV affects 1.25 million
Pacific Islands, Alaska, Eastern Europe, the
Americans,
Middle East, Africa and areas of South
Americans.
America.
half of
whom are
Asian-
How is HBV spread from one person to
Why is HBV infection dangerous?
another?
Babies and young children who are infected
HBV is spread when blood or body fluids,
are likely to develop lifelong infection. This
such as semen or vaginal secretions from
lifelong infection is called chronic HBV
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Hepatitis B among Asian Americans 2012
person infected with HBV enters the body of
a person who Is not infected, for example:
ɤ
ɤ
ɤ
ɤ
What are the symptoms of Hepatitis B?
An infected mother to her child
Most babies and children who get HBV
during birth.
infection don’t have symptoms and don’t
Having sex with an infected person
look or feel sick. Most adults (7 of 10) who
without using a condom
get infected have symptoms of hepatitis B. If
Coming in contact with the blood or
people do have symptoms, they might
open sores of an infected person.
experience any or all of the following:
Being bitten by an HBV-infected
person.
ɤ
Sharing a household with a person
who has chronic HBV infection
ɤ
Share
items
toothbrushes,
such
as
razors,
washcloths,
other
ɤ
Pre-chewing food for babies.
ɤ
Sharing chewing gum
ɤ
Sharing syringes, needles, drugs,
cotton, spoons, or water to inject
ɤ
ɤ
yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)
ɤ
nausea, vomiting
ɤ
fever
ɤ
weakness, tiredness, inability to work
ɤ
abdominal pain
ɤ
joint pain
ɤ
dark urine
ɤ
clay-colored bowel movements
How do you know if you have HBV
drugs.
infection?
Using unsterilized needles in ear or
body
loss of appetite
for weeks or months
personal care items.
ɤ
ɤ
piercing,
tattooing,
Only a blood test can tell for sure. Asian
or
acupuncture.
American and Pacific
Islander (AAPI)
Using needles that have been use by
children and adults are at high risk for being
someone else.
infected with HBV. Many may already have
been infected. You need to have your blood
tested to find out if you’ve been infected in
the past or are infected now.
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One in ten Asian Americans is infected with Hepatitis B, the leading cause of liver cancer.
Hepatitis B among Asian Americans 2012
ɤ
What should you know if you are Asian
and can infect others.
American or Pacific Islander?
All
foreign-born
people
About 1 of 7 people tested is infected
ɤ
(including
About 1 of 2 people tested had been
immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and
infected at one time but have cleared
internationally adopted children) born in
the infection from their bodies and
Asia, the Pacific Islands, Africa, and other
won’t get infected again. They cannot
regions in the world with high rates of HBV
spread HBV infection to others.
infection
should
be
tested
for
HBV
ɤ
infection, even if they’ve been vaccinated.
About one 1 of 3 people had never
been infected and need hepatitis B
Three blood tests often used by healthcare
vaccine to be protected.
professionals are the following:
ɤ hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
Studies have found that the prevalence of
ɤ hepatitis
B
surface
antibody
chronic HBV infection in United States–
(antiHBs)
born Asian adults was significantly lower
ɤ hepatitis B core antibody (antiHBc)
than
that
in
those
born
in
Asia.
Interpretations of this finding are limited by
the small sample size of the studied group
If the tests show that the person hasn’t
and the lack of information about the parents’
already been infected, then the person can be
birthplace, which precludes the study from
vaccinated against hepatitis B. If the HBsAg
estimating the prevalence of chronic HBV
test shows that the person is currently
infection in the offspring of foreign-born
infected with HBV, a healthcare professional
parents. However, it is reasonable to suggest
who is experienced in the care of persons
that routine screening for HBV should be
with liver disease should evaluate the person
extended to United States– born Asian adults
further.
whose parents were born in HBV-endemic
In recent years, large numbers of Asian
areas in Asia because such individuals may
immigrants and refugees in various Asian
not have received complete or timely
communities across the United States have
perinatal HBV vaccination.
been tested. These are the results:
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Hepatitis B among Asian Americans 2012
ɤ
How can you prevent HBV infection?
Carefully discard used items, such as
Hepatitis B vaccination is the best protection.
bandaids and menstrual pads, so no
The vaccine can be given safely to infants,
one is accidentally exposed to your
children, and adults and is usually given as
blood.
three doses over about 6 months. Other
ɤ
flexible schedules are available. Pregnant
Wash your hands well after touching
your blood or infectious body fluids.
women can be given this vaccine as well.
ɤ
Hepatitis B vaccine is very safe, and side
Clean up blood spills; then clean the
area again with a bleach solution (one
effects are rare. This vaccine is the first
part household chlorine bleach to 10
vaccine that prevents cancer; it prevents liver
parts water).
cancer caused by HBV infection.
ɤ
Important DO’s and DON’T’s for people
Tell your sex partner(s) you have
hepatitis B so your partner(s) can be
with HBV infection:
tested and vaccinated (if not already
DO’s:
infected). Sex partners should be
ɤ
Cover all cuts and open sores with a
tested 1–2 months after receiving
bandage.
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Hepatitis B among Asian Americans 2012
DON’Ts :
three doses of vaccine to be sure the
vaccine worked.
ɤ
ɤ
chewing
unless your sex partner has had
needles for ear or body piercing, or
hepatitis B or has had three doses of
anything that might have come in
hepatitis B vaccine and has had a
contact with your blood or infectious
blood test showing that s/he is
body fluids.
(Condoms
might
also
transmitted diseases.)
healthcare
Don’t pre-chew food for babies.
ɤ
Don’t share syringes, needles, drugs
or “works” such as cotton, spoons,
professional
and water.
for
ɤ
testing and vaccination for hepatitis
Don’t donate blood, plasma, body
organs, tissue, or sperm.
B.
Tell
washcloths,
ɤ
Tell the persons you live with to see
their
razors,
gum,
toothbrushes,
protect you from other sexually
ɤ
share
Use condoms (rubbers) during sex,
protected.
ɤ
Don’t
all
of
your
healthcare
professionals that you are chronically
infected with HBV.
ɤ
See your healthcare professional
every 6–12 months to screen you for
signs of liver disease, including liver
cancer.
ɤ
If you are pregnant, be sure to tell
your healthcare professional that you
have HBV infection. It is very
For
important that your baby get hepatitis
questions
and
concerns
Hepatitis B, contact your nearest
B vaccine and hepatitis B immune
health
globulin within 12 hours of birth and
professional.
1(800)HBV-2000.
that you get ongoing care for your
HBV infection as well.
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Or
call