Hepatitis B: A Manageable Chronic Infection
Universal vaccination is the cornerstone of prevention.
Dr. Yann Beaumont
Gastroenterologist
Blood, sexual contact, perinatal transmission. Vertical transmission accounts for most chronic cases worldwide.
Natural history
Acute infection in adults usually resolves; perinatal infection becomes chronic in 90%. Long-term risks include cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Treatment
Tenofovir and entecavir suppress HBV replication safely and durably. Treatment is rarely curative but blocks disease progression.
Screening and prevention
- Universal infant vaccination
- Screen pregnant women, household contacts, healthcare workers
- Combine vaccination with hepatitis B immunoglobulin in exposed newborns
Hepatitis B vaccination is one of the most effective cancer-prevention tools we have.
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