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Who Is Affected by Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is one of the most easily spread (contagious) forms of viral hepatitis, which include hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.
- About 46,000 new hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections occurred in the United States in 2006.1
- About 1.2 million Americans have long-term (chronic) hepatitis B, and many acquired their infection in childhood.1
- In the U.S., hepatitis B is most common in people ages 25 to 44.1 People at greatest risk for HBV infection are those who inject illegal drugs, those who have more than one sex partner, and men who have sex with men.2
- Each year, about 3,000 people die in the U.S. from illnesses related to HBV infection.1
- Black teenagers and young adults become infected with HBV 3 to 4 times more often than those who are white.2
- Worldwide, chronic HBV infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease and liver cancer.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: November 11, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Steven L. Flamm, MD - Gastroenterology | |
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