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Hepatitis B in Asian Americans

Hepatitis B in Asian Americans. Anne K. Chung The University of Arizona APAMSA National Education Officer. Hepatitis B. virus world's most common liver infection 2 billion people (1 out of 3 people) have been infected with HBV 400 million chronic carriers adults vs. children

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Hepatitis B in Asian Americans

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  1. Hepatitis B in Asian Americans Anne K. Chung The University of Arizona APAMSA National Education Officer

  2. Hepatitis B • virus • world's most common liver infection • 2 billion people (1 out of 3 people) have been infected with HBV • 400 million chronic carriers • adults vs. children • Progression to chronic infection • About 6% of people who get hepatitis B as adults • 30-90% of people who get hepatitis B as children

  3. Ways of Transmission • from mother to child • During birth • Through breast milk • contact with bleeding or oozing skin sores or cuts • when one child bites another • unprotected sex • living in a household with someone who has chronic hepatitis B • sharing personal items • razors, toothbrushes, washcloths, or nail clippers that might have blood or other body fluids on them • pre-chewing food for a baby • sharing chewing gum or food that has been in another person's mouth • unsterilized needles • ear piercing, tattooing, injecting drugs, acupuncture, or accidental needle stick

  4. Symptoms • loss of appetite • yellow skin and eyes • nausea, vomiting • fever • weakness, tiredness • abdominal pain • joint pain • dark urine • may be asymptomatic

  5. Hepatitis B in Asian Americans • In the U.S., more than half of the 1.25 million chronic carriers of HBV are of Asian descent. • Rates • Asian Americans – 8-15% • General U.S. population – 0.3% • Immigrant groups • Hmong - 18% • Chinese - 11% • Vietnamese - 7.6% • Korean - 6% • Filipino - 4% • Japanese - 1.9% • Most common route of infection in Asian Americans - perinatal

  6. Consequences • Liver cancer • 2nd most common cause of cancer in Vietnamese-Americans. • Liver cancer rates: Asian men vs. non-Asian men • Vietnamese-American: 13X • Korean-American men: 8X • Chinese-American: 6X • Liver cirrhosis

  7. What can you do? • Testing • hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test • surface antibody (HBsAb) test • Vaccination • Series of 3 immunizations over 6 months • Screening • Liver cancer - alpha-fetoprotein • Treatment • Lamivudine • Adefovir • Interferon therapy • Surgery – liver transplant

  8. Additional Resources • CDC • http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/b/ • Asian Liver Center at Stanford • http://liver.stanford.edu • Hepatitis B Information and Assistance HelpLine • 1-888-888-0981 • available in Vietnamese, English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean. • Hepatitis B Foundation • info@hepb.org • 215-489-4900

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