Slide 33 of 68
Notes:
Hepatitis B is a serious disease. Similar to other hepatitis viruses, it can cause jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent nausea, and vomiting. It can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. One in twenty cases remains chronically infected.
The incidence of Hepatitis B increased through 1985 but has now decreased because of wider use of the Hepatitis B vaccine. The downtrend in new cases is expected to continue with a national strategy for vaccination of children.
Since 1993, increased cases have been observed in only three major risk groups: sexually active heterosexuals with multiple partners, men who have sex with men, and injection drug users.
