Hepatitis B: Symptoms, Causes and Risks

By EmpowHER

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. have chronic hepatitis B." Also, more than 3,000 people die from hepatitis B in the U.S. each year.

Hepatitis B is a virus which attacks the liver. The CDC states ʺapproximately 15-25 percent of those infected with hepatitis B will develop serious liver issues over time.ʺ Serious liver issues include liver cancer, cirrhosis, liver damage and liver failure.

Infants and children are the most vulnerable. However, adults can also be infected. You can become infected with the hepatitis B virus by the transmission of bodily fluids or blood. Also, pregnant mothers with hepatitis B can pass the virus on to their newborn babies. The World Health Organization states, ʺThe hepatitis B virus is 50-100 times more infectious than HIV.

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