Tiếng Việt
Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Hung – Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Department, Hanoi French Hospital, says: “Hepatitis B and C are dangerous because patients may have no clear symptoms for a long period of time. Every adult should be aware of their immune status so that they can receive timely vaccination or have the disease effectively controlled.”
Screening is particularly important for the following groups:
- Adults who have never been tested for hepatitis B or C.
- Pregnant women or women planning pregnancy.
- People with family members who have hepatitis B, cirrhosis or liver cancer.
- People living in the same household as, or having a sexual partner with, hepatitis B.
- People who have had blood transfusions, surgery, tattoos, piercings or invasive procedures performed in unsafe conditions.
- People with elevated liver enzymes, fatty liver disease or other liver conditions.
- People living with HIV.
- People undergoing hemodialysis or those who are frequently exposed to blood and body fluids.
Dr. Hung further explained that, for hepatitis B, screening does not rely on HBsAg testing alone. Doctors often combine several tests, such as:
- HBsAg: helps determine whether a person is currently infected with hepatitis B virus. If HBsAg remains positive for more than six months, the patient may be diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B.
- Anti-HBs: assesses immunity against hepatitis B virus, usually appearing after vaccination or recovery from infection.
- Total anti-HBc: indicates whether a person has been exposed to hepatitis B virus in the past, helping differentiate immunity from vaccination and immunity following natural infection.
For hepatitis C, anti-HCV testing helps identify people who have been exposed to the virus. If the result is positive, the doctor may order an HCV RNA test to determine whether the patient has an active infection and indicate treatment if necessary. Today, hepatitis C can be cured in many cases if detected early and treated according to the appropriate regimen.
World Hepatitis Day on 28 July 2026 is led by the World Health Organization under the theme “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down”, calling for the removal of barriers to the prevention, testing and treatment of viral hepatitis. In response to this message, each person can begin with one concrete action: proactively checking their hepatitis B and C status.
With a highly qualified and experienced medical team, Hanoi French Hospital accompanies the community in the early detection of viral hepatitis, assessment of liver damage and development of appropriate follow-up or treatment plans.
For further information or make an appointment with our specialist, please contact HOTLINE: 024 3577 1100, INBOX the fanpage “Hanoi French Hospital”, or via WhatsApp: +84 903 497 078.
