The occurrence of viral hepatitis and oncogenic risk in Brazil

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1594712401081

• Palavras-chave: Viral hepatitis, Cancer, Oncogenic viruses and Public health.

• Keywords: Viral hepatitis, Cancer, Oncogenic viruses and Public health.

• Abstract:

  Viral hepatitis A, B, and C are the most commonly diagnosed types in Brazil, and more than one million deaths occur worldwide each year due to acute infections, liver cancer, or cirrhosis resulting from these infections. Some professions may be more exposed to the risk of accidents with biological material and consequent infection by hepatitis or other oncogenic viruses. In this study, we describe the epidemiological profile of viral hepatitis confirmed in 2020 in Brazil, in order to alert to the risk of exposure to hepatitis viruses in the workplace. Of the more than 16,000 confirmed cases of hepatitis, the highest positivity rate was observed in males (58.6%). The most affected age group was the 20 to 59 age group, and the South (36.5%), Southeast (35%), and Northeast (10.6%) regions were the most affected by viral hepatitis. There was a higher incidence of chronic hepatitis (76.67%) than acute hepatitis, and in terms of virus type, the highest percentage of infections were caused by virus’s type C (54.29%), B (38.46%) and A (1.84%). Prevention of hepatitis B and C and their chronic forms represent essential public health measures to prevent these infections in the general population and in health workers, which can also prevent cancer associated with oncogenic viruses.