Hepatitis B prevention

Hepatitis B prevention refers to prophylactic strategies intended to avert primary infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV), a partially double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Hepadnaviridae family The virus primarily targets the hepatic system via exposure to infectious blood, semen, or other bodily fluids, with perinatal transmission representing a major driver of lifelong carriage Susceptible populations range from newborns and unimmunized adults to individuals at elevated occupational,...

The virus primarily targets the hepatic system via exposure to infectious blood, semen, or other bodily fluids, with perinatal transmission representing a major driver of lifelong carriage

Susceptible populations range from newborns and unimmunized adults to individuals at elevated occupational, behavioral, or medical risk of viral exposure

Without effective immunoprophylaxis—which typically elicits protective anti-hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) antibodies—acute infection can progress to chronic necroinflammatory liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, with the risk of chronicity reaching approximately 90% in perinatally infected infants

Without effective immunoprophylaxis—which typically elicits protective anti-hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) antibodies—acute infection can progress to chronic necroinflammatory liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, with the risk of chronicity reaching approximately 90% in perinatally infected infants