Viral hepatitis among men who have sex with men, epidemiology and public health consequences.
Viral hepatitis causes major disease burden worldwide, due to the chronic hepatitis sequelae: cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. Transmission of viral hepatitis is a problem not only in low-income countries, but also in high-income ones where viral hepatitis is a frequently occurring infection among men who have sex with men (MSM). Although the transmission routes of the three main hepatitis viruses, A, B and C, differ, MSM mainly acquire viral hepatitis during sexual contact. Vaccination programmes (only available for hepatitis A and B), raising awareness, and screening can be used to prevent transmission. However, despite the introduction of such methods in many high-income countries, the spread of viral hepatitis among MSM is still ongoing. This paper provides an overview of sexually acquired hepatitis A, B, and C among MSM in high-income countries, using recent insights obtained through molecular epidemiology, with the aim to raise awareness, improve vaccination coverage, and stimulate prevention programs.
Urbanus
A T
AT
Cluster Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. aurbanus@ggd.amsterdam.nl
van Houdt
R
R
van de Laar
T J
TJ
Coutinho
R A
RA
D001727:Bisexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D019049:Developed Countries; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011634:Public Health; D012309:Risk-Taking; D014611:Vaccination; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines