What
is hepatitis B? |
Hepatitis B
is a disease of the liver that is caused by
the hepatitis B virus, or HBV.
Most hepatitis B infections are short-term,
or acute, and do not cause lasting health
problems. In 5% of adult cases, however, hepatitis
B becomes a long-term (chronic) condition.
Chronic hepatitis B can lead to more serious
liver diseases, including cirrhosis, liver
failure and liver cancer. 15 to 25% of chronically
infected persons will die from chronic liver
disease.
Hepatitis B can be transmitted from a mother
to her child during birth. Infants and children
are much more likely than adults to develop
chronic infection. 90 percent of children
infected at birth develop chronic infection.
30 percent of children infected at age 1-5
years develop chronic infection.
A very small percent of people with acute
hepatitis B may develop acute liver failure,
a life-threatening condition that demands
immediate medical attention. |
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What
are the symptoms of hepatitis B? |
Many people
with acute hepatitis B, and most people with
chronic hepatitis B, have no symptoms. When
symptoms do occur they are often mild and
may include fatigue, fever, loss of appetite,
nausea, headache, muscle soreness, pain near
the liver and jaundice (a yellowing of the
skin and whites of the eyes).
Children are less likely than adults to exhibit
symptoms of hepatitis B.
Because hepatitis B may produce no symptoms,
many infected people do not know that they
are infected. |
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What
causes hepatitis B? |
The hepatitis
B virus passes from one person to another
through body fluids, such as blood, semen
and vaginal secretions. The hepatitis B virus
can be spread from a mother to her child during
birth. Other common causes of transmission
include:
- Sexual contact
- Sharing needles among intravenous drug
users
- Sharing razors, toothbrushes or nail
clippers
- Being exposed to wounds, blood, or secretions
from infected persons
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How
is hepatitis B diagnosed? |
Hepatitis B
is diagnosed with a blood test. The test may
include several markers of HBV infection that
show whether you a) are immune to hepatitis
B (protected), b) have never been exposed
to hepatitis B, or c) are infected with hepatitis
B. If the results are not conclusive, your
doctor may choose to conduct additional tests.
The hepatitis B blood test is not included
in routine blood tests. If you are at risk
for hepatitis B, or if you are concerned about
hepatitis B, don’t hesitate to talk
to your doctor about testing and vaccination.
Some people learn they have the disease or
have had it in the past when they volunteer
to donate blood. All blood donation centers
test for current and past hepatitis B infections
and reject anyone who was ever infected. |
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How
is hepatitis B treated? |
Medicines are
not used to treat acute hepatitis B because
the disease usually goes away on its own.
If you have been diagnosed with acute hepatitis
B you must see your doctor for follow-up blood
tests to make sure your body clears the virus.
After the virus has been cleared from your
body, you will be protected for life and will
never get hepatitis B again.
If you have acute hepatitis B, you should
reduce the pace of your daily activities to
match any loss of energy. A balanced diet
with plenty of fluids is also helpful. Your
liver’s ability to break down drugs
is weakened while you have hepatitis B and
alcohol can cause further damage to your liver.
Therefore you should not take any drug or
herbal supplement unless approved by your
doctor, and avoid alcohol.
Some people with chronic hepatitis B may need
antiviral medications to suppress the virus
and prevent further damage to their liver.
If you have chronic hepatitis B, you should
see a doctor even if you have no symptoms.
Your doctor will order blood tests to check
if you have high or low levels of the virus
and if you have mild or severe liver damage,
which will help determine if you should take
antiviral medications. FDA-approved treatments
for hepatitis B include interferon alfa-2b
and peginterferon alfa-2a which are given
as injections, and lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil,
and entecavir which are given as pills.
Everyone with chronic hepatitis B should see
a doctor and have blood tests regularly to
monitor the level of the virus and severity
of liver damage. Your doctor may also order
tests to see if you have early-stage liver
cancer. |
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If
I have chronic hepatitis B, what can I do
to help keep myself and others healthy? |
It is recommended
that anyone with hepatitis B should tell their
doctors and dentist. You should also:
- Be under the care of a doctor who specializes
in the liver.
- Stay on any prescribed medications and
keep all your medical appointments.
- Get the hepatitis A vaccination to protect
yourself from another liver infection.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating
nutritious meals, getting exercise, resting
when you feel tired and avoiding alcohol
and illegal drugs.
- Use only drugs and supplements that
your doctor has approved.
- Take precautions to avoid spreading
the disease through the exchange of body
fluids with sexual partners.
- Avoid spreading your blood to others.
Don’t share razors, toothbrushes
or nail clippers.
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Who
is at risk for hepatitis B? |
Anyone who
is exposed to the blood or body fluids of
an infected person is at risk of getting hepatitis
B
You may also be at risk of getting hepatitis
B if you:
- Are exposed to blood or bodily secretions
on the job, as a first aid or emergency
worker, firefighter, mortician, embalmer,
police officer or health care worker
- Have unprotected sex with an infected
person or have more than one sexual partner
- Inject illicit drugs
- Have hemophilia
- Work or are a patient in a health care
or long-term care facility
- Work or are incarcerated in a prison
- Get a tattoo in unsterile conditions
- Are a hemodialysis patient
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What
is the best way to prevent hepatitis B? |
Vaccination
is the best way to prevent hepatitis B because
it gives you long term immunity. The hepatitis
B vaccine is given in three doses. The first
two doses are given a month apart; the final
dose is given about six months later. Vaccination
is recommended for:
- All newborns, infants, children and
teenagers
- Health care and emergency workers
- Hemodialysis patients
- Patients with chronic liver disease
- Military personnel
- People with multiple sexual partners
- Men who have sex with men
- Injection drug users
- Sexual partners and household members
of people with hepatitis B
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