Yellow Week has started on October 5th. Its aim is to make the society aware of he alth risks related to viral liver diseases and to educate about their prevention. During the 31st edition of Yellow Week (from 5 to 16 October 2015), you will be able to learn more about hepatitis A and B and how to protect your liver.

October 4 is the World Day of Oncology1. Therefore, it is worth recalling that the hepatitis B virus is the second carcinogen after tobacco, which can cause up to
80 percent. cases of hepatocellular carcinoma2 … The goal of Yellow Week is to make the public aware of he alth risks associated with viral liver diseases and to educate about their prevention. During the 31st edition of Yellow Week (from 5 to 16 October 2015), you will be able to learn more about hepatitis A and B and how to protect your liver.

1. What is hepatitis B?

The most common viral liver disease is hepatitis B, the so-called "Implantable jaundice". It is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is up to 100 times more contagious than HIV4. We deal with the hepatitis B virus more often than we think, because 1 in 100 he althy Poles is its carrier5, and the number of infections with this type of virus in Poland is one of the highest in Europe6. In 2015, there was a significant increase in hepatitis B infections. According to PZH data, in the period from January to August 2015. 900 more new cases of hepatitis B infections were reported than in the corresponding period of the previous year.

2. Where and how can you get hepatitis B?

We often do not realize how easy it is to get infected with the hepatitis B virus, which is transmitted between people by a route associated with the violation of tissue continuity, called the blood route5. The most common way of infection with the virus is contact with contaminated blood, e.g. during medical procedures, through contact with a cut wound, during blood collection for testing, during blood transfusion and during dental procedures3. An infected mother can also pass the virus to the newborn during childbirth. Virus infection can also occur during cosmetic procedures, e.g. ear piercing, tattooing, pedicure andduring a visit to the hairdresser 5. The use of a borrowed razor or toothbrush may also be a risk factor if they have been contaminated with blood.

3. What are the symptoms of the disease and the consequences of developing hepatitis B?

Common The symptoms associated with the development of hepatitis B may last up to several weeks and include yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, and the urine becomes a beer color8. Non-specific symptoms include the feeling of general weakness and increased fatigue, the appearance of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain8. Infection with hepatitis B virus can lead to acute hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver failure3. In the world Over 780,000 people die every year as a result of diseases caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus.

4. What does hepatitis B have to do with liver cancer?

For several years, WHO has emphasized that HBV is the second carcinogen after tobacco, which may be responsible for up to 80 percent. cases of hepatocellular carcinoma2,8. About 20-30 percent. adults chronically infected with hepatitis B develop hepatocellular carcinoma8. Unfortunately, cancer develops very quickly, and due to limited access to diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis B, many people find out about the disease too late and the therapy becomes ineffective8. Vaccination against hepatitis B is the first vaccination in oncological prophylaxis, which reduces the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, and its effectiveness is 95%.

5. How can I protect myself against hepatitis B?

The most frequently recommended method of preventing infection with hepatitis B and A viruses is protective vaccination, which has a very good safety and efficacy profile8. As with all vaccines, the hepatitis B vaccine can cause temporary side effects (the most common are pain and redness at the injection site, fatigue, irritability and headache), although they may not occur in everyone4,6. Vaccination against hepatitis B is the first vaccination in oncological prophylaxis, which reduces the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma8. Since 1982, over a billion doses of hepatitis B9 vaccines have been administered worldwide. In Poland, the incidence of hepatitis B has significantly decreased after the introduction of compulsory vaccination of infants against this type of virus in 1994 (in 1994, about 28 people per 100,000 Poles fell ill with hepatitis B, while in 2013 the disease was it affected only 4 people out of every 100,000 people) 10.7. Therefore, such an option of protection against hepatitis B may be considered by all persons born before 199410. Over 60 percentpeople infected with the hepatitis B virus become infected with it in medical facilities, so it is worth taking advantage of such vaccination when planning to undergo medical procedures6. During Yellow Week, it is worth taking advantage of vaccination against hepatitis B and considering vaccination against hepatitis A, commonly known as "food jaundice".

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