Update on diagnosis, management, and prevention of hepatitis B virus infection

Acute and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a leading cause of l iver disease worldwide. It is estimated that approximately 350 million peop le worldwide have chronic HBV infection and that 1 million persons die each year from HBV-related chronic liver disease. In the past decade, significa nt progress in the understanding of the molecular virology and pathogenesis of HBV infection has been made. In addition, effective treatment modalitie s have been developed for persons with chronic infection. Worldwide, preven tion of HBV transmission has become a high priority. In 1992, the Global Ad visory Group to the World Health Organization recommended that all countrie s integrate hepatitis B vaccine into national immunization programs by 1997 . Currently, 80 countries have done so and several others are planning to. Many countries have reported dramatic reductions in the prevalence of chron ic HBV infection among children born since the hepatitis B vaccine was intr oduced into infant immunization schedules. Recent reports from Taiwan indic ate a reduction in the incidence of liver cancer among children as a result of widespread hepatitis B vaccination programs.