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Consider this: Three out of four of your friends may be infected with a disease and not even know about it. Nope, it's not AIDS, it's not cancer, it's  

hepatitis B

  -- and it infects 75 percent of people ages 15-29. The even scarier part? Most have no clue they're infected.

Thelma King Thiel, the founder and CEO of the Hepatitis Foundation, is working to spread the word and to help conquer this disease. After a rare liver disease claimed the life of her infant son, Dean, Thiel assumed the role of "The Liver Lady," devoting countless hours to educating the public on the dangers of this quiet killer.

Hepatitis B is a disease that affects the liver, a non-complaining organ. Because of this, says Thiel, there are often no signs until it's too late.

"Hepatitis B can be spread in very similar ways to AIDS," she explains. It can be transmitted from infected needles, unprotected sex, or through body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus (HBV) like blood, semen, and vaginal secretions. And it's not only a cause of concern for druggies or the reckless.

Those with tattoos and/or body piercings are also at risk. "Anything that breaks the skin and lets blood in and out is considered at-risk behavior for hepatitis B," she says.

So, how does hepatitis B make its attack?

When HBV enters the body, it passes through the liver and stays there. And, since it's the liver that makes and creates energy, those infected often begin to feel lethargic and lifeless. The hepatitis B virus causes swelling and inflammation of the liver, which in turn, causes cells to die. When cells die they create scar tissue (called cirrhosis). This cirrhosis distorts the body's blood flow, and makes the liver lumpy, hard, and unable to function properly.

By the time symptoms emerge, however, it's often too late. According to Thiel, approximately 4,000 people die each year due to liver problems related to hepatitis B.

That's why it's important to identify behaviors that put you at risk for contracting hepatitis B. Vaccinations are available as well; check with your doctor to make sure you're up-to-date.

To find out more about the different types of hepatitis and how to protect yourself, contact the Hepatitis Foundation at 800-891-0707, or visit them on the Web at www.HepFI.org.

Learn More About Preventing Hepatitis B
Get your hands on "Respect Yourself - Protect Yourself," a video made exclusively for teens. It teaches about the disease by using real teens and cartoon diagrams to make it fun and informative. (Available from the Hepatitis Foundation, 800-891-0707)

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