Hepatitis B - A Silent Infection that Increases the Risk of Liver Cancer
You only need 3 injections to lower the risk of liver cancer
From 11 July 2007 , the Health Promotion Board will launch a month-long media campaign with the theme You only need 3 injections to lower the risk of liver cancer to urge Singaporeans to be immunised against Hepatitis B to reduce their risk against liver cancer.
According to the World Health Organization , Hepatitis B is estimated to cause 60 to 80 per cent of primary liver cancers worldwide. In Singapore , according to the Singapore Cancer Registry, 1,855 primary liver cancers were diagnosed between 1988 and 2002. Key findings from the National Seroprevalence Survey 2005 conducted by the Ministry of Health showed that 59.3% of the population aged 30 74 years and 57.2% aged 30 44 years were not immune to the Hepatitis B virus.
In the light of these findings, HPB s month-long campaign aims to reach out to the majority of the population who have not been immunised under the national Hepatitis B infant immunisation programme which was introduced from 1 September 1987, and the catch-up immunisation programmes for Hepatitis B carried out in January 2001 for students in secondary schools, junior colleges, pre-tertiary and tertiary institutions and for National Service men.
Background on Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer
This education message is especially pertinent as Hepatitis B vaccine is effective in preventing Hepatitis B infection. As Hepatitis B infection is a risk factor for liver cancer, vaccination also helps to lower the risk of liver cancer.
Hepatitis B is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver. People who are infected with the virus may not exhibit any noticeable symptoms. Even if symptoms are present, they are often flu-like and are not recognised as symptoms of hepatitis B infection. People who are unaware that they are infected with the Hepatitis B virus and become Hepatitis B carriers can unknowingly transmit the virus to others. The Hepatitis B virus is transmitted by blood or body fluids of an infected person. In Singapore , an estimated 1 in 35 adult Singaporeans are Hepatitis B carriers.
Hepatitis B infection, if undiagnosed or untreated, can lead to serious complications such as acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure or liver cancer.
Liver cancer is a silent killer because majority of patients do not have symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms such as abdominal pain, weight loss, loss of appetite, development of jaundice, and abdominal swelling appear in the later stages of liver cancer, when the tumour is large and impairs the function of the liver. However, primary liver cancer resulting from Hepatitis B infection is preventable with Hepatitis B immunisation.
According to the World Health Organization , the Hepatitis B vaccine is 95% effective in preventing children and adults from developing chronic Hepatitis B infection if they have not yet been infected. The vaccine is easily administered in a series of 3 intramuscular doses.
Hepatitis B vaccination is available at the polyclinics, hospitals as well as private general practitioners. For further information, visit www.hpb.gov.sg, or call HPB HealthLine at 1800 223 1313.
Hepatitis B and its link to Liver Cancer Public Forum
The National Cancer Centre, supported by HPB and in partnership with Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, will be holding a public forum titled Hepatitis B and its link to Liver Cancer on Saturday 28 July 2007.
World Health Organization: Hepatitis B in the Western Pacific Region Next steps to control by immunization
World Health Organization, Fact sheet No. 204 on Hepatitis B, Revised in Oct 2000