ACIP review of the hepatitis B birth dose vaccination remains a grave concern - Please read more here.

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  • AGA Publishes New Guidelines on Hepatitis B Reactivation!

    … at the highest risk if they take rituximab (a cancer treatment drug) but are at a moderate risk if they take any of the above-mentioned medications or treatments (Ali et al., 2025).  HBVr can progress rapidly, which is why screening for hepatitis B, prior to beginning treatment for cancers is important. If you take any of the mentioned medications, it is best to discuss with your doctor about your risk of reactivation. If you know about your hepatitis B status, you should disclose it to your provider or ask to get tested for hepatitis B to learn about your risk of reactivation. In the United States, all adults over 18 years of age are recommended to get tested for hepatitis B at least once in their lifetime.  Learn more about the updated guidelines here.  Learn more about hepatitis B Reactivation on our B Heppy Podcast here.     References  Ali, F. S., Nguyen, M. H., Hernaez, R., Huang, D. Q., Wilder, J., Piscoya, A., Simon, T. G., & Falck-Ytter, Y. (2025). AGA Clinical Practice Guideline on the Prevention and Treatment of Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation in At-Risk Individuals. Gastroenterology, 168(2), 267–284. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2024.11.008  

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/aga-publishes-new-guidelines-hepatitis-b-reactivation/
  • Preparing for College, Dating and Disclosing Hepatitis B

    Image courtesy of jesadaphorn at FreeDigitalPhotos.net When my daughter, who has chronic hepatitis B, packed for her freshman year of college, I peppered her with warnings about the need for standard precautions and condoms. I suggested wording for a future conversation where she would disclose her infection and negotiate safe sex with a potential partner. I hoped these verbal dress rehearsals would empower and protect her, especially if that potential boyfriend turned her down. I wanted her to know that any rejection would not be about her or her hepatitis B, it would be about his fears. Years have passed, and youthful passions being what they are, no one ever rejected her after her hepatitis B disclosure. When I asked her recently about how she has handled disclosing, she gave me the condescending but kind look that young adults give their parents. “I’ve always disclosed my infection,” she said. “Once I know they are someone I would like a relationship with, I start out by asking if they’ve been immunized for hepatitis B and explain that I have it. I guess I’m lucky, because nearly everyone my age has been vaccinated.” Her first partner didn’t care and assumed he had been. (That's not very reassuring, I told her.) The second one, refreshingly cautious in one so young, dug out his immunization papers just to make sure. Her current boyfriend is positive he was immunized. “I’m lucky because my viral load is undetectable and as far as I know no one has ever caught it from me,” she explained in youthful, misguided optimism. I take a deep breath and remind her that hepatitis B rarely causes any noticeable side effects and she must consider herself capable of infecting others despite her low viral load. “I know, I know,” she replied. “I know this would be harder if I had a high viral load, or if the guy I was dating wasn’t vaccinated.” I suspect her low viral load has freed her from constant worry about infecting others, as well as the

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/preparing-for-college-dating-and-disclosing-hepatitis-b/
  • Hepatitis B Foundation strongly supports Congressional letters urging Biden administration to end discriminatory military policy

    U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley leads the effort asking for inclusion of individuals living with well-managed hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the military. Doylestown, Pa., Sept. 8, 2022 – The Hepatitis B Foundation, which has long fought against discrimination of people living with hepatitis B, strongly supports a new effort to permit individuals with hepatitis B or HIV to serve in the U.S. military. A letter to President Biden signed by 31 members of the U.S. House calls for the Department of Defense to update their policies and personnel management instructions to reflect the most current scientific guidelines for HIV and hepatitis B management and treatment. An identical letter is being sent to President Biden by a group of U.S. Senators, led by Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware and Sen. Kristen Gillibrand of New York. These letters mark a new effort to fight this unfair policy and are a significant step forward in combating discrimination. The House letter, which is here, was led by  Rep. Mike Quigley (IL-05), vice-chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, along with Reps. Sara Jacobs (CA-53) and Barbara Lee (CA-13). Rep. Quigley’s office issued a press release, posted here. The Members of Congress point out that people living with HBV or HIV can manage their condition with as little as one pill a day and can lead very full, long lives. Particularly given the advances in medicine for both hepatitis B and HIV, these viruses do not in and of themselves make a person less able to serve, and the risk of battlefield transmission is near zero. There is no longer any plausible argument, experts say, to deny these individuals the ability to serve their country. Hepatitis B Foundation President Chari A. Cohen, DrPH, MPH, said: "Scientific evidence shows that people living with hepatitis B do not pose a risk to others, and that hepatitis B does not impact the ability of military students and personnel to serve. By failing to align its current policies with recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense has created an inequitable environment where people living with hepatitis B and HIV are vulnerable to being discharged unnecessarily. We urge President Biden to take swift action to ensure that all who wish to serve in the military can do so unimpeded."  The Foundation has long fought against hepatitis B discrimination. In a landmark achievement, the Foundation’s advocacy efforts contributed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2013 that made hepatitis B a protected condition under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Currently, the Foundation operates a first-of-its-kind Discrimination Registry to document hepatitis B-related discrimination, offer support, and develop a plan to fight discrimination globally.

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/hepatitis-b-foundation-strongly-supports-congressional-letters-urging-biden-administration-to-end-discriminatory-military-policy/
  • I am currently pregnant, and I have chronic hepatitis B. What should I do to protect my baby?

    Pregnant people who have hepatitis B can transmit the virus to their newborns during delivery (due to the blood exchanged during the childbirth process). Many of these babies will become chronically infected, which increases their risk of serious liver disease later in life. However, we can prevent hepatitis B transmission from mother to baby! There are a few simple steps you and your doctor can take. Your newborn must be given two shots in the delivery room - the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine (5 mcg dose) and one dose of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG, 0.5 mL dose)*. These two shots must be given at separate injection sites, i.e. different limbs. If these two medications are given correctly within the first 12 hours of life, a newborn has a 95% chance of being protected against a lifelong hepatitis B infection. The infant will need additional doses of hepatitis B vaccine at one and six months of age to provide complete protection. * Note: HBIG is recommended by U.S. CDC. HBIG is not recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) and may not be available in all countries. What is most important is to make sure the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose is given as soon as possible! Another important step to reduce the risk of transmitting the infection to your baby, is to determine whether the viral load (HBV DNA) is high in your blood. If the viral load is high, it is recommended that you take antivirals during the third trimester of pregnancy, to get the virus under control, and reduce the risk of transmission to your baby. Assessing the viral load is best done through an HBV DNA test, however this test is not always available, and often is expensive. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all pregnant women get tested for HBeAg. If HBeAg is positive, it is recommended to receive antiviral therapy during the final three months of pregnancy (third trimester). ACTION PLAN: (1)  Ask your doctor to test you for HBeAg or HBV DNA (hepatitis B viral load test if it is available) to determine if treatment with an antiviral is needed during the last trimester of your pregnancy. (2)  Make sure you have chosen a specific health facility to deliver your baby. Inform the healthcare team there that you will need the hepatitis B vaccine ready for your babies in the delivery room (or as soon as possible but within the first 12 hours of birth). (3)  When it is time for the baby to be delivered, make sure to go to that health facility for your delivery. Children who receive hepatitis B vaccine and HBIG at birth should complete the 3-part vaccine series and should be tested at 9-15 months of age, to make sure that the vaccine worked and that they are not infected and have protection against hepatitis B. Testing before 9 months of age can be inaccurate. Additional Resources: info@hepb.org – Ask us if you have any questions about preventing hep B transmission to your baby at birth! Testing and Treatment during Pregnancy Protecting Your Baby Through Vaccination Pregnancy and HBV Treatment after pregnancy Breast Feeding Find more Frequently Asked Questions here.  Page updated 02/09/2022

    https://www.hepb.org/what-is-hepatitis-b/faqs/i-am-currently-pregnant-and-i-have-chronic-hepatitis-b-what-should-i-do-to-protect-my-baby/
  • Nobel Prize to Hepatitis B Foundation and Blumberg Institute Advisors

    Doylestown, Pa., Oct. 5, 2020 – The Hepatitis B Foundation today is celebrating the news that Harvey J. Alter, M.D., has been selected for the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, along with collaborators Michael Houghton, Ph.D., and Charles Rice, Ph.D. Dr. Alter is the W. Thomas London Distinguished Scientific Advisor to the Hepatitis B Foundation and an Honorific Professor of the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, which is the Foundation’s research arm. He received the Hepatitis B Foundation’s Distinguished Scientist Award in 2000. Dr. Rice, who is a professor of virology at Rockefeller University, has been Scientific Advisor to the Blumberg Institute’s research programs. The Nobel Prize was awarded to Drs. Alter, Houghton and Rice today for discovering the hepatitis C virus, which is a landmark breakthrough that the Nobel committee said had “made possible blood tests and new medicines that have saved millions of lives.” “We are thrilled, but not at all surprised, that these great scientists are being recognized with such a prestigious honor,” Timothy M. Block, Ph.D., co-founder and president of the Hepatitis B Foundation, said. “The discovery of the hepatitis C virus is one of the major triumphs of modern medical science and provided the basis for discovery of a cure. Their work has benefited millions of people around the world.” Dr. Block added, “Dr. Alter has been a longtime supporter of our research in hepatitis B and his advice and counsel has been tremendously valuable.” Given the current global COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Block said, this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is especially gratifying as it draws attention to value and benefits provided by good science. Dr. Alter (left) and Dr. Blumberg, both winners of the Nobel Prize, at our Princeton Workshop in 2002. Dr. Alter’s research while at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) uncovered the fact that there was an infectious virus, which was neither hepatitis A nor B, infecting people who had received blood transfusions. Not only did his work ultimately lead to important diagnostics and life-saving treatment, but Dr. Alter’s research also resulted in nationwide blood screening, which has nearly eliminated transfusion-associated hepatitis. Before his groundbreaking research in hepatitis C, Dr. Alter was part of the team that discovered the hepatitis B virus, alongside Baruch S. Blumberg, M.D., D.Phil., who won the Nobel Prize in 1976 for that discovery. Dr. Rice has been an advisor to the Hepatitis B Foundation since 2003, Dr. Block said, “So, we have had benefit of his brilliance and insights firsthand!” Dr. Rice and Dr. Alter have participated numerous times in the Hepatitis B Foundation’s Princeton Workshop, which is a prestigious scientific meeting on hepatitis research. 10/05/20

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/nobel-prize-to-hepatitis-b-foundation-and-blumberg-institute-advisors/
  • Journal Articles

    Free, Open Access Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles Adepoju, P. Thirty African countries now back Africa Medicines Agency treat but continent's economic powers still hold out. AMA Countdown. (3 February 2022). Afolabi, I.B., Aremu, A.B., Maidoki, L.A. et al. Dynamics of Hepatitis B infection prevention practices among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Lubaga Hospital Kampala, Uganda using the constructs of information-motivation-behavioural skills model. BMC Public Health. (2022). Apata, I.W., Averhoff, F., Pitman, J., Bjork, A., Yu, J., Amin, N.A., Dhingra, N., Kolwaite, A., Marfin, A.; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Progress Toward Prevention of Transfusion-Transmitted Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Infection — Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2011. MMWR. (2014). Beykaso, G., Mulu, A., Giday, M., Berhe, N., Selamu, M., Mihret, A., & Teklehaymanot, T. Burden and transmission risks of viral hepatitis in Southern Ethiopia: Evidence needed for prevention and control measures. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy. (December 2021).  Bitrus, T.Z., & Danzaria, M. Impeding the high prevalence of hepatitis B in Nigeria: The pharmacist's perspective. MG Modern Ghana. (19 January 2022). Boisson, A., Goel, V., Yotebieng, M., Parr, J.B., Fried, B., & Thompson, P. Implementation approaches for introducing and overcoming barriers to hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine in sub-Saharan Africa. Global Health: Science and Practice. (February 2022). Burba, K. Low-cost scoring system informs HBV treatment eligibility in resource-limited countries. Healio News. (22 May 2022). Chandrasekar, E., Song, S., Johnson, M., Harris, A.M., Kaufman, G.I., Freedman, D., Quinn, M.T., Kim, K.E. A Novel Strategy to Increase Identification of African-Born People With Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the Chicago Metropolitan Area, 2012-2014. Prev Chronic Dis. (1 September 2016). Daka, D., Hailemeskel, G., & Fenta, DA. Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and Associated Factors Among Female Sex Workers Using Respondent-Driven Sampling in Hawassa City, Ethiopia. Infection and Drug Resistance (October 2021). Emeasoba, E.U., Omarufilo, F., Bosah, J.N., & Sigal, S.H. Breaking down barriers for hepatitis B screening in the Bronx West African community through education in collaboration with faith-based organizations: A cohort study. Lancet. (March 2022).  Experts review efforts on diagnosing hepatitis in sub-Saharan Africa. Taarifa Rwanda. (22 April 2022). Frambo, A.A., Atashili, J., Fon, P.N., Ndumbe, P.M.. Prevalence of HBsAg and Knowledge About Hepatitis B in Pregnancy in the Buea Health District, Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study. BMC Res Notes. (25 June 2014). Freeland, C., Bodor, S., Perera, U., Cohen, C. Barriers to Hepatitis B Screening and Prevention for African Immigrant Populations in the United States: A Qualitative Study. Viruses. (2020). Graber-Stiehl, I. The Silent Epidemic Killing More People Than HIV, Malaria or TB. Nature. (5 December 2018). Gupta, N., Desalegn, H., Ocama, P., et al. Converging Pandemics: Implications of COVID-19 for the Viral Hepatitis Response in Sub-Saharan Africa. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. (2020). Jonas, E., Bernon, M., Robertson, B., Kassianides, C., Keli, E., Offei Asare, K., et al. Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and solutions. The Lancet. (7 July 2022). Jones, P., Soler, J., Solle, N.S., Martin, P., Kobetz, E. A Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding Perceptions of Hepatitis B and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among Ethnically Diverse Black Communities in South Florida. Cancer Causes & Control. (December 2020). Kazmi, S.K., Khan, F.M.A., Natoli, V., Hunain, R., Islam, Z., Costa, A.C.D.S., Ahmad, S., Essar, M.Y. Viral Hepatitis Amidst COVID-19 in Africa: Implications and Recommendations. Journal of Medical Virology. (January 2022). Kinfe, H., Sendo, E.G., Gebremedhin, K.B. Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Factors Associated with Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Pregnant Women Presented to Antenatal Care Clinics at Adigrat General Hospital in Northern Ethiopia. International Journal of Women's Health. (January 2021). Mozambique: Maputo study on cutting mother to child transmission of hepatitis B. All Africa. (18 January 2022). Nankya-Mutyoba, J., Ejalu, D., Wandera, C., Beyagira, R., Amandua, J., Seremba, E., Mugagga, K., Kambugu, A., Muganzi, A., Easterbrook, P., & Ocama, P. A training for health care workers to integrate hepatitis B care and treatment into routine HIV care in a high HBV burden, poorly resourced region of Uganda: The '2for1' project. BMC Medical Education. (20 April 2022). Nordling, L. Africa's struggles with hepatitis B. Nature. (30 March 2022). Sabiiti, D. Rwanda shows improvement in hepatitis treatment. KT Press. (25 April 2022). Shankar, H., Blanas, D., Bichoupan, K., Ndiaye, D., Carmody, E., Martel-Laferriere, V., Culpepper-Morgan, J., Dieterich, D.T., Branch, A.D., Bekele, M., Nichols, K., Perumalswami, P.V. A Novel Collaborative Community-Based Hepatitis B Screening and Linkage to Care Program for African Immigrants. Clin Infect Dis. (1 June 2016). Shimakawa, Y., Veillon, P., Birguel, J., Pivert, A., Sauvage, V., Le Guillou-Guillemette, H., et al. Residual risk of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus infection despite timely birth-dose vaccination in Cameroon (ANRS 12303): A single-centre, longitudinal observational study. Lancet. (17 February 2022). Sohn, E. The global fight against hepatitis B is benefitting some parts of the world more than others. Nature. (30 March 2022). Sonderup, M.W., & Spearman, W. Global disparities in hepatitis B elimination - A focus on Africa. Viruses. (3 January 2022). Thompson, P., Morgan, C.E., Ngimbi, P., Mwandagalirwa, K., Ravelomanana, N.L.R., Tabala, M. et al. Arresting Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus (AVERT-HBV) in Pregnant Women & Their Neonates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Feasibility Study. Lancet. (November 2021). Tonen-Wolyec, S., Djang’eing’a, R. M., Batina-Agasa, S., Tshilumba, C.K., Masidi, J.M., Hayette, M.P., & Belec, L. Self-Testing for HIV, HBV, and HCV Using Finger-Stick Whole-Blood Multiplex Immunochromatographic Rapid Test: A Pilot Feasibility Study in Sub-Saharan Africa. Plos ONE. (2021). Tousignant, N. Filtering Inequality: Screening and Knowledge in Senegal’s Topography of Hepatitis B Care. Frontiers in Pharmacology. (2021). Valcarcel, M. Despite global headway, Africa lags on eliminating mother-to-child HBV transmission. Healio News. (24 August 2022).

    https://www.hepb.org/research-and-programs/chipo/resources/journal-articles/

  • እንኳን ወደ አማርኛ የሄፓታይተስ ቢ ምዕራፍ የፋውንዴሽን ድረ ገፅ ሄፓታይተስ ቢ ድምፅ አልባው ገዳይ ሲባል አብዛኞቹ ሰዎች እንዳለባቸው አንኳን አያውቁም፡፡ ድረ ገፁ ሄፓታይተስ ቢ ን ስለ መከላከል፣ ምርመራ ስለማድርግ፣ እና ስለመቆጣጠር መረጃ ይዟል፡፡ እርስዎ መረጃዎችን ለጓደኛዎ፣ ለቤተሰብዎ እና በአቅራቢያዎ ላሉ ማህበረሰቦች እንዲያጋሩ እንጠይቆታለን፡፡ ስለ ሄፓታይተስ ቢ ሊያስታውሷቸው የሚገቡ ጠቃሚ የሆኑ ነገሮች እነሆ፦ ሄፓታይተስ ቢ በመወለድ አይተላለፍም- በቫይረስ ነው የሚመጣው፡፡  እድሜ ልክህን ከሄፓታይተስ ቢ የሚጠብቅህ አስተማማኝ ክትባት አለ፡፡  ሄፓታይተስ ቢ እንዳለ ለማወቅ ቀላል የደም ምርመራ አለ፡፡ የመከላከያ ህክምናዎች አሉ፡፡ ሄፓታይተስ ቢ ዓለማቀፋዊ በሽታ ነው ሄፓታይተስ ቢ የእድሜ እና የብሄር ልዩነት ሳያደርግ ሁሉንም ሰው ሊይዝ ይችላል፤ ነገር ግን ሄፓታይተስ ቢ በብዛት በሚከሰትባቸው ከተወሰኑ የዓለም ክፍሎች ያሉ ሰዎች ማለትም እንደ ኤሲያ፣ የአፍሪካ የተወሰኑ ክፍሎች፣ ደቡብ አሜሪካ፣ ምዕራብ አውሮፓ እና መካከለኛው ምስራቅ በበሽታው የመያዝ እድላቸው በእጅጉ ከፍ ያለ ነው፡፡ በነዚህ ቦታዎች በተወለዱ አሜሪካውያን (ወይም ቤተሰቦቻቸው በተወለዱት) ላይ ሄፓታይተስ ቢ በብዛት ይከሰታል፡፡ በመቶ ሚሊየን በሚቆጠሩና በዓለም ዙሪያ በሚኖሩ ሰዎች ሄፓታይተስ ቢ አለባቸው፡፡ በርካታ ሰዎች በበሽታው ስለመያዛቸው እንኳን አያውቁም፤ እንዲሁም የበሽታው ምልክቶችም አይታይባቸውም፤ ነገር ግን ማወቅ ያለባችሁ በርካታ ጠቃሚ ነገሮች አሉ፡፡ ሄፓታይተስ ቢ በደም ውስጥ እንዳለና እንደሌለ ማረጋገጥ ህይወትዎን ያድናል፡፡ ሄፓታይተስ ቢ እንዳለብዎ ካወቁ፣ የአኗኗር ዘይቤዎትን በመለወጥ የጉበትዎን ጤንነት ከመጠበቅ ባለፈ ዶክተሮች ቫይረሱን እንዲቆጣጠሩት እና ጉበትዎም እንዳይጎዳ ያደርጋሉ፡፡ የሄፓታይተስ ቢ ፋውንዴሽን ለትርፍ ያልተቋቋመ ብሄራዊ ድርጅት ሲሆን ጥናትና ምርምር፣ ትምህርት እና ታማሚዎችን ማማከር ስራዎች ላይ በማተኮር፣ በሽታውን ለማከም ብሎም በመላው ዓለም ያሉና በሄፓታይተስ ቢ የተያዙ ሰዎች በሙሉ ህይወታቸው እንዲሻሻል የሚሰራ ነው፡፡   መግለጫ፦ በድረ ገፅ የተለቀቁት መረጃዎች ለትምህርት አገልግሎት ብቻ የሚውሉ ናቸው፡፡ የሄፓታይተስ ቢ ፋውንዴሽን የህክምና ተቋም አይደለም፡፡ በግልዎ ጤናዎትን ለመጠበቅ እና ምክር ለማግኘት ዶክተር አሊያም ብቁ የጤና ባለሙያ ማነጋገር አለብዎት፡፡ Welcome to the Amharic Chapter of the Hepatitis B Foundation Website Hepatitis B is known as a silent disease, and most people don’t even know they are infected. This website contains information about preventing, diagnosing and managing hepatitis B. We encourage you to share this information with your friends, family and others in your community. Here are some important things to remember about hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is not inherited - it is caused by a virus.  There is a safe vaccine which will protect you from hepatitis B for life.  There is a simple blood test to diagnose hepatitis B.  There are treatment options. Hepatitis B is a Global DiseaseHepatitis B can infect any person of any age or ethnicity, but people from parts of the world where hepatitis B is common, such as Asia, parts of Africa and South America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, are at much higher risk for getting infected. Hepatitis B is also common among Americans who were born (or whose parents were born) in these regions. There are hundreds of millions of people worldwide who have hepatitis B. Most people don’t even know they are infected, and don’t have symptoms – but there are many important things you should know. Getting tested for hepatitis B can save your life. If you know you have hepatitis B, you can make lifestyle choices to keep your liver healthy and you can see a doctor to help manage the virus and prevent liver damage. The Hepatitis B Foundation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure and helping to improve the quality of life for all those affected by hepatitis B worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. Disclaimer: The information that is provided on this website is for educational purposes only. The Hepatitis B Foundation is not a medical organization. Please talk to your doctor or a qualified health care provider for personal medical care and advice.

    https://www.hepb.org/languages/amharic/
  • Diagnosed with Hepatitis B? Do You Need Treatment?

    When people learn they are infected with hepatitis B, the first thing they want to know is “what can I take to get rid of this disease?” It can be complicated, and what can be even more difficult to understand is that during different stages of the disease there may be absolutely no benefit from currently available treatments. Just diagnosed with HBV? Are you acute or chronic?  First, if you have just been diagnosed with HBV, it is imperative that you determine if you have an acute or chronic infection. If you have an acute, or new infection, then it is important to know that very few people require any sort of treatment. Just be sure you are being monitored by your doctor, and take good care of your health and be sure to prevent transmission to others during this time. Chronically infected, now what? If your doctor determines you are chronically infected, then you will need additional information to determine what your next steps should be. Remember that unless you display urgent symptoms, such as jaundice, or a bloated abdomen, or severe illness, you really can wait a few weeks, or even a few months, to see a liver specialist. Many people panic if they are unable to see a liver specialist immediately.  Relax, find a good doctor, learn what you can about hepatitis B, and take care while you wait. How will you be evaluated? Your liver specialist will do a complete work-up on you. He will perform a physical examination, get a complete medical history, and he will run additional blood tests to learn more about your hepatitis B status and your liver health. He may also get a baseline ultrasound or perform other diagnostic imaging procedures to gain more data so he can make a decision whether or not you would benefit from treatment at this time.  Some of the blood work may need to be repeated over a period of time before your doctor decides whether or not to move forward with treatment. Do not beg your doctor for treatment. Waiting and watching is sometimes the

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/diagnosed-with-hepatitis-b-do-you-need-treatment-part-i/
  • National Hepatitis Testing Day. Why Should I Get Tested?

    Saturday, May 19th is the first National Hepatitis Testing Day.  Viral hepatitis partners will be working together with local health departments and other community partners in to bring viral hepatitis testing events to a neighborhood near you. Hep B United Philadelphia and the Hepatitis B Foundation and other partners will be holding screening events in downtown Philly. Why is hepatitis testing necessary? Hepatitis B is largely asymptomatic – until it is too late, or caught with blood donation screening, or lab work.  There are clearly defined risk factors for hepatitis B, or groups that are at greater risk, but there are also less clearly defined risks, or just bad luck. Think about this list and ask yourself if you might want to think about getting tested. If you are young, or when you were younger, was your behavior ever wild or impulsive? Are you a little older and you’re still a little impulsive, or occasionally wild? Did you ever get drunk, or do drugs – even once, or perhaps “lose a night”? Did you have unprotected sex, or do you have multiple partners? If you are monogamous, are you sure your SO is equally monogamous? Does a friend or family member possibly have a known or even an unknown infection? Maybe they know, but they aren’t telling you. Do you like traveling the world?  Outside of the U.S. there are some really wonderful places that have an extremely high HBV prevalence. Roughly 40% of Americans have tattoos, or various piercings. Did you check out the shop- not for the artistry, but for infection control practices before you got your tatt? Ever borrowed a razor or nail clippers or other personal hygiene tools from someone else? How about the nail salon? Do enjoy a good pedicure? Things happen. People are different, they have different lifestyle choices. People make mistakes. They change. Things happen. Sometimes I take calls from people that call HBF’s consult line. In the last couple of weeks I have spoken to a few consults that

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/national-hepatitis-testing-day-why-should-i-get-tested/
  • Distinguished Doctor and Contributor to the Viral Hepatitis Community Dies

    Dr. Emmet B. Keeffe, Professor of Medicine Emeritus at Stanford University in Hepatology, passed away unexpectedly on August 8, 2011 after a distinguished career in hepatology. He was sixty-nine years old. Please join us in extending our condolences to the family, and many friends, colleagues and patients of Dr. Emmet Keeffe.  We are all saddened by his death. Dr. Keeffe was a major contributor in the viral hepatitis community and made significant contributions throughout his 42 years practicing medicine.  Dr. Keeffe had an impressive list of professional achievements, administrative appointments, honors and awards. His clinical research interests focused on the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C, where he was a principle investigator for many clinical trials treating numerous patients.  Dr. Keeffe has been published extensively throughout his career. Dr. Keeffe was a true thought leader in the field of hepatitis B who grasped all aspects of this liver disease. He created bridges of understanding between the science, medicine and patient experiences for the entire hepatitis B community. We will miss his active involvement and support of the Hepatitis B Foundation, but most importantly, we will miss his vital contributions to the science and medicine of chronic viral hepatitis. Emmet B. Keeffe, MD April 12, 1942 - August 8, 2011  

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/distinguished-doctor-and-contributor-to-the-viral-hepatitis-community-dies/