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Hepatitis B

 

 

Vaccinate

 

For

 

Protection

 

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a contagious liver diease. It starts with an infection of the hepatitis B virus. It ranges from a mild illness that lasts a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness.

The short-term illness is acute hepatitis B virus infection. It occurs within the first six months after a person is exposed to the virus. It may lead to chronic infection.

Chronic hepatitis B infection is a long-term illness that happens when the virus remains in a person's body.

 

How does Hepatitis B spread?

Hepatitis B often spreads when the blood, semen or another body fluid from a person infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of a person who isn't infected. Spread happens through:

  • sexual contact
  • sharing needles, syringes or other drug-injection equipment with an infected person
  • the birth process

Hepatitis B is NOT spread through breastfeeding, kissing, sharing eating utensils, coughing or sneezing.

Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV. It is an extremely hardy virus that lives for long periods outside the body.

 

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis B?

Some people, particularly young children, have no symptoms with acute Hepatitis B. Symptoms occur in most adults within 3 months of exposure to the virus. Symptoms can last from a few weeks to several months. They include:

  • fever
  • fatigue
  • loss of appetite
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • abdominal pain
  • dark urine
  • clay-colored bowel movements
  • joint pain
  • jaundice

Chronic hepatitis B may show no symptoms for up to 30 years, but some people experience ongoing symptoms similar to those of acute hepatitis B.

 

How is Hepatitis B diagnosed and treated?

Doctors diagnose the infection using blood tests. There is no medication available to treat acute hepatitis B. Doctors usually recommend rest, good nutrition and fluids. People with chronic hepatitis B should be monitored regularly for signs of liver disease. Specific medications benefit some people.

 

How serious is chronic Hepatitis B?

About 15% to 25% of people with chronic Hepatitis B develop serious liver problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. Every year, nearly 4,000 people in the United States and more than 600,000 worldwide die from hepatitis B-related liver disease.

 

Can hepatitis B be prevented?

Yes. The Hepatitis B vaccination is the best prevention. Adults usually get the vaccination in three shots over six months. The entire series is necessary. The vaccine doesn't provide protection for people already infected.

 

Who should get vaccinated against hepatitis B?

  • anyone having sex with an infected partner
  • people with multiple sex partners
  • anyone with a sexually transmitted disease
  • men who have sexual contact with other men
  • injection drug users
  • anyone who lives with someone infected
  • people wiht chronic liver disease, end stage renal disease or HIV infection
  • healthcare and public safety workers exposed to blood
  • resident or staff of facilities for developmentally disabled people
  • Travelers to certain countries
  • infants or children younger than 19 who have not been vaccinated
  • anyone who wants to be protected from hepatitis B.

 

Here are some links to helpful information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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