Children’s Health Issues
I guess while we are discussing children’s health we should give special mention Hepatitis B. Most expats in Hong Kong are aware of the high incidence of Hepatitis B in Southeast Asia including Hong Kong. However, some folks from areas such as Australia, northern Europe and North America where this infectious disease is not so prevalent may not be so well informed. For what it is worth…
City University of Hong Kong – Search Engine
Hepatitis B is caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infecting over 300 million people worldwide and may cause serious consequences. Carriers in China and South-east Asia represented 10-20% of the total population while Hong Kong carriers represented 9.6% of the population. This makes HBV one of the most common human pathogens.
It is estimated that there are over 600 thousands carriers in Hong Kong. Hepatitis B may increase the chances of liver damage (cirrhosis) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that may eventually lead to death.
The World Health Organisation has recommended that hepatitis B vaccination be included as part of childhood or other universal vaccination schemes.