-
Hepatitis B can cause
chronic infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer,
liver failure and death.
- Hepatitis B is
preventable through vaccination.
HBV
is found in
transmittable levels in body fluids including:
- Semen
- Vaginal secretions
- Saliva
- Blood
HBV
may be transmitted:
- Sexually (having
unprotected sex with an infected person)
- Intravenously (sharing
injecting drug needles or paraphernalia with an infected person)
- Neonatally
(mother-to-child if the mother is infected with HBV)
HBV
may
also be transmitted in rare cases:
- Horizontally (oral
exposure to infected secretions such as saliva). Saliva can be a means
of transmission through bites; however, other types of exposure to
saliva, including kissing, are unlikely ways of transmission.
- Risk of transmission
from blood transfusion is currently low in the United States since
blood banks screen donated blood that appears to be infected.
What are the signs or
symptoms of Hepatitis B?
Many adults have few or
no symptoms. When symptoms are present they may include:
- Anorexia (loss of
appetite)
- Malaise
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine
- Jaundice (yellowing of
the skin and eyes)
- Rash or arthritis may
occur during the prodromal or early acute stage.
Your health care
provider can confirm HBV by using a special blood test to detect HBV
particles or antibodies in the blood.
Babies born to infected mothers should get blood tests at aged 9 to 15
months to be certain that the vaccine worked well and that the mother
did not pass HBV to her baby during birth.
Reducing the risk:
Hepatitis B is
preventable through vaccination. Since hepatitis D can only co-exist
with hepatitis B, getting vaccinated against hepatitis B also protects
you against hepatitis D.
The HBV vaccine is
given in a series of three doses.
- A new combination
vaccine called Twinrix has been approved for protection from both HAV
and HBV in persons 18 and older. It reduces the total number of
injections for vaccination from both viruses from five to three.
- The first and second
doses must be given at least one month apart.
- The first and third
doses must be given at least 4 months apart.
- If a dose is missed, it
should be given as soon as possible.
- The series should not be
restarted if a dose is missed.
- Routine booster doses of
the HBV vaccine are NOT currently recommended.
- Consult your health care
provider for more information about the HBV vaccine and if it is right
for you.
- HIV can impair the
response to the hepatitis vaccine.
Sexual prevention:
- Latex condoms are
effective prevention during vaginal, oral and anal sex by reducing
contact with infected bodily fluids (semen, vaginal secretions and
blood).
- Abstinence and mutual
monogamy also offer a high level of protection.
Hepatitis B can cause:
- Chronic infection
- Cirrhosis (scarring) of
the liver
- Liver cancer
- Death
The best news is that
hepatitis B is preventable through vaccination. A person can choose to
be vaccinated and not have to worry.
If
you have an acute or chronic hepatitis B infection then you need to
talk to your partner about it so they can decide what option is best
for them to prevent getting infected.
If you find out you have been exposed to hepatitis B, consult your
health care provider as soon as possible to discuss your best options
to help prevent infection.
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