Viet Nam has a high incidence of Hepatitis B, with a recent survey confirming its prevalence in 15-20 % of the population.
Hepatitis B is an infectious illness resulting in inflammation of the liver. This infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Infected individuals may follow one of two paths: either becoming well again and experiencing no further problems or they become carriers who remain chronically infected.
An individual’s age appears to be a determining factor as to whether a person clears the infection or becomes chronically infected, i.e. 90% of newborn babies, 20-50% of children aged 1-5 years and 1-10% of older children and adults become chronically infected.
Those who experience chronic infection may or may not have related health problems. Of the individuals who remain infectious for life, complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer may ensue.
Symptoms when present usually include jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and joint pain. Newly infected individuals do not always display symptoms.
The mode of infection with Hepatitis B is through blood or bodily fluids such as saliva, semen and vaginal secretions that contain the hepatitis B virus. These fluids may enter a person's body through unprotected sexual contact, broken skin, mucous membranes, by sharing contaminated injecting or piercing/tatooing equipment, contaminated medical instruments, by sharing personal items such as toothbrushes and razors. It can also be passed on to a baby at birth or through breast milk from an infected mother.
An effective way of prevention is through immunisation with the Hepatitis B vaccine. The usual regimen involves 3 doses where the vaccine is administered via injection at intervals of 0, 1 and 6 months - this provides long term protection. An accelerated schedule is used if protection is needed sooner.
Babies and school age children in Australia receive hepatitis B vaccinations as part of the childhood immunisation schedule.
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