What Is Hepatitis B? Video Transcript

Webcast Transcript

So the current recommendations for vaccination are that all newborn children be vaccinated against hepatitis B and that there be catchup vaccination for adolescents and young adults.

ANNOUNCER: If a person is infected with hepatitis B, several treatments have been developed to combat the virus.

EMMET KEEFFE, MD: Now, the case of hepatitis B, we have for treatment not only interferon, but pegylated interferon is approaching licensure, because the studies so far have been completed show promising results.

But we also have two oral agents, pills that are taken once a day. One is called lamivudine. The trade name is Epivir. And the other drug is called adefovir. Trade name is Hepsera. And both of those drugs are quite effective against hepatitis B.

ANNOUNCER: Despite the progress made in fighting hepatitis B, there are still certain myths and misconceptions about the disease that keep people at high risk from getting tested and treated.

EMMET KEEFFE, MD: Some of the mistakes I see with hepatitis are, in the case of my Asian population, a certain nonchalance, if you will, about hepatitis B, because many of the Asian people in our communities know that, "Mom has hepatitis B. My sister has hepatitis B. We all feel well, and I don't need to see a doctor or be tested."

The other error I see probably in hepatitis is lack of the recognition of how easily hepatitis B is spread by sexual contact. People all fear HIV or AIDS, but what is not widely known is that hepatitis B is the most easily spread virus by sexual contact.

The main thing I want people with hepatitis to know is that we have made tremendous progress in the past ten years, both diagnostically and therapeutically. We have now quite sophisticated tests. We more intelligently use liver biopsies in order to help patients and doctors make the right decisions, and we've had remarkable progress in therapy.

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