Hepatitis B


What is the illness?

Description

Infectious illness of the liver caused by the HBV virus. It usually heals spontaneously; however, there are recorded cases (5 - 10% of young persons or adults infected and 90% of neonates or young children) in which the hepatitis becomes chronic with the risk of degenerating into cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer.

Spread

In Switzerland there are about 20-30,000 people with chronic hepatitis B. Thanks to the introduction of  vaccinations the number of new cases is gradually falling (currently less than 100 acute hepatitis B cases per annum in Switzerland). 

How is it contracted and recognised?

How is it treated?