Why Hepatitis B prevention is important

Here is the reason that children in Malaysia are getting Hepatitis B vaccination.

The AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) was more than 350mg/L.
Hepatitis B surface antigen serology was positive.

A forty-something-year-old man presented with abdominal pain for the previous few weeks. He had history of being a Hepatitis B carrier but was not on a surveillance program. He was not jaundiced. Abdominal examination detected localised tendernass. The CT scan shows a mass in the right lobe of the liver.

The red line marks the tumour. The yellow line marks the rest of the (normal) liver.

“Surveillance” is the serial follow-up of patients who are at high risk of developing further problems. For example, Hepatitis B patients are at high risk of developing liver cancer. All patients with chronic Hepatitis B infection should be on a surveillace program. For those with neither Hepatitis B infection nor immunity, i.e. Hepatitis B surface antibody is negative, get vaccinated.

11 comments so far

  1. Judy Leese March 17, 2007 5:09 am

    I don’t smoke and I don’t drink but I still have concern about drinking. Why? Because my son who is in uni thinks drinking is the way to have fun with his friends. Uni culture! :(

    I think I will get him to read this post.

  2. Judy Leese March 17, 2007 5:10 am

    Sorry Bernard….commented in the wrong post. :P

  3. eve March 17, 2007 11:08 am

    oh yeah ..n oso to tell everyone that even if ur hep B antibody is low..u dun have to have your booster dose…if u r so sui , got infected , ur body will recognise the virus and start producing the antibody again..so if any of those unethical Drs tell u that u must have ur booster dose..just tell them no need , I said so..kekkekekkeke..

  4. liling March 17, 2007 9:14 pm

    What will happen to this patient?

  5. Bernard March 18, 2007 1:22 am

    Judy, yup.. please do (get him to read).

    eve, THANK YOU for highlighting that.

    Liling, i referred him to the liver surgeon. To me, it looks resectable. It’s definitely worth a try, he’s only forty-something, fit and the CT doesn’t show any obvious spread.

  6. hoiling March 18, 2007 4:28 pm

    Can a patient live with a half liver? Never gotten myself to have any vacinnation for Hep. Think I should one of these days. :)

  7. George March 19, 2007 12:57 am

    Wah so big already! Hi Just came back from Jakarta and trying to catch up

    Hoiling, half liver also can - why want to donate is it? Very good!

  8. Bernard March 19, 2007 1:35 am

    George, uahhh… you went on an island trip before me eh? Hehe.. holiday spree!

  9. chelsea March 19, 2007 4:59 pm

    I’ve my first vacinnation of Hep B 9 years ago…former blood test shows that the level is running low…I remember a surgeon once told me that the vacin is only important to those whose work need to deal with blood all the time such as doctors and nurse…for cases like me I only need Hep A vacin…so which one is true here???

  10. hoiling March 19, 2007 10:54 pm

    Hi George, hope you have a great hol! Liver donation? Sure if it helps lives! I’ve signed the organs donation form 12 yrs ago in Singapore. :)

  11. Bernard March 20, 2007 12:48 pm

    Chelsea, everyone should have immunity to Hepatitis B.

    You may to get vaccinated against Hepatitis A if you’re travelling to areas with poor sanitation or having water supply of questionable source.

    Hoiling, great that you’ve signed up!

    For those in or around Penang… you can sign up at the Transplant Resource Centre. In Penang, the phone number is 04-2002435/2293333 (ext. 435).

    They’ll give you a donor card like this:

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