Hepatitis B is a big concern because it can cause liver damage. The liver is the largest intestinal organ in the body and it performs more functions than any other body part. The reddish-brown tissue is essential as a digestive gland, chemical factory, blood purifier, poison processor, and food storage and distribution center. It stores up to ten percent of your total blood supply, and you can’t live without it. (How to Avoid Hepatitis B &C, 1).

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus, a bacterial infection, or injury from overwhelming amounts of alcohol, drugs, or environmental poisons. It can also result from autoimmune diseases, genetic defects, or tumors, and can either be acute which is suddenly onset or chronic which is long term. It is usually chronic and involves progressive liver damage, and includes cirrhosis, which is scarring of the liver, and liver cancer. (How to Avoid Hepatitis B & C, 1).

The fact that many people infected with

Hepatitis B have no symptoms makes it a serious threat to society. However, some may have flu-like symptoms, which could include fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, joint pain, dark urine, and light colored stools. Twenty-five to thirty-five percent have symptoms such as jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes, which indicates liver damage. (The American Liver Foundation, 2).

There are several groups of people who are at the highest risk of becoming infected with the Hepatitis B virus. Those sexually active adults and teenagers, especially those who have had more than one sexual partner in the last six months, those who have had unprotected sex, or those who have had, or are currently having a homosexual relationship. Those who are health, dental, and emergency care personnel because the virus is highly resilient. Adoptive families, especially those who plan to adopt children from Asia, parts of Africa, South America, and Eastern and Mediterranean Europe because they have the largest number of people infected with the disease. Those who are injecting, intravenous drug users. Those children born to a mother carrying the Hepatitis B virus. People, who get tattoos, ear piercings or other body piercings, with unsterile needles. People who plan to travel to high-risk countries which include places where over two percent of the population is infected with Hepatitis B. (Hepatitis B Foundation Information, 2).

The Hepatitis B immunization vaccine is also available for those people in high risks groups. The early Hepatitis B vaccine was made from human blood products and was not received well by the public. However, the new Hepatitis B vaccines ar

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