New Jersey Hepatitis B Case Report

HBV is transmitted when the blood, semen, or another bodily fluid of a person with the Hepatitis B infection enters the body of someone who is not infected. The disease can be an acute or chronic infection. Infants are more likely to be chronically infected than adults. A chronic infection can lead to liver cancer or other serious health issues. A vaccine exists for HBV immunization. Because HBV is a communicable disease, health care providers must report cases to local health departments. The New Jersey Hepatitis B Case Report app is a reporting tool for primary care physicians to document a Hepatitis B infection for public health officials. With the app, a provider will give patient demographics and vaccination history and complete a special section for pregnant women with a liver infection. The provider will record clinical and diagnostic data including symptoms and diagnoses such as acute or chronic Hepatitis B. The provider will use a checklist for risk factors such as a blood transfusion or exposure to a person infected with the disease. With the app, the provider can collect contact information for anyone at risk of exposure.