Multiple Sclerosis Risk Not Increased by Hepatitis B Vaccination in Kids

A French study has said that vaccination against hepatitis B does not generally increase risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in children.

The study involved 349 kids with MS and 2,941 children without the disease, all under the age of 16.

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Hepatitis B is inflammation of the liver due to infection with the hepatitis B virus.

A total of 24.4 percent of the children with MS were vaccinated for hepatitis B in the three years before the study, compared to 27.3 percent for the children without MS.

The researchers observed that the children who had developed MS were 1.74 times more likely to have received a certain type of hepatitis B vaccine, called Engerix B.

The risk was only found for this specific type of hepatitis B vaccine, and not for all vaccines against hepatitis B.

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The researchers, however, admit that this observation cannot be taken to be a confirmation that the vaccine caused MS.

They say that further studies are needed to determine whether this is a causal relationship.

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Liver is the largest organ inside the human body. It performs 500 different functions and processes 720 liters of blood per day. The important functions of the liver, the development of liver cancer and it’s symptoms are presented in this interactive.

The study will be published in the October 8, 2008, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Source-ANI
RAS/SK

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