Why is Hepatitis B Immunization Recommended for All Infants, Children, and Adolescents?
Most hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections occur in adolescents and adults but the consequences of infection in early childhood have long lasting and serious consequences, including liver cancer, chronic liver disease and death. Although hepatitis B is often thought of as a disease that affects people who are sexually active or who use intravenous drugs, in fact nearly one out of three patients who contract this disease have no known source of infection. HBV causes an acute (short duration) infection in some and a long-lasting (or, chronic) infection in others. • Symptoms of HBV infection vary: • More than half of the people infected with HBV show no signs or symptoms at the time of infection. • Some develop symptoms of hepatitis (loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, jaundice (yellow eyes and skin), joint pain, and skin rashes). • Some become chronically infected, presenting a risk to others. Those with chronic infection also are at risk for developing liver disease, including liver cancer,
