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Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus.
It's 100 times more infectious than HIV. About 300,000 Americans
get hepatitis B each year. Most people recover, but a few become
chronic carriers with increased risk of serious problems later,
such as permanent liver disease and cancer of the liver.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear within 2 to 6 weeks after contact.
They can include poor appetite; nausea; vomiting; headaches;
general malaise; jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin); dark,
tea-colored urine; and light-colored stools. Even without
symptoms, you can pass the virus to others. Chronic carriers
carry the hepatitis B virus for the rest of their lives and
unknowingly pass it to their sex partners.
Testing
Routine testing is not usually indicated unless the patient
is symptomatic from jaundice or has had recent sexual exposure
to someone with hepatitis. Sometimes, serological testing
is done as part of a hepatitis B vaccination program. However,
if you've already had hepatitis B, you don't need to be vaccinated.
Remember that 90% to 95% of people who have hepatitis B will
fully recover.
Treatment
For acute hepatitis B, treatment includes rest and diet. There
are some new treatments for chronic hepatitis, including interferon.
If your sex partner or a member of your household is found
to have hepatitis B, you should consult your doctor or healthcare
provider and get immunized. Immunization may include hepatitis
B immune globulin and hepatitis B vaccination series.
Prevention
Like acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the hepatitis
B virus is spread through contact with infected blood or body
fluids. You can get hepatitis B from vaginal, oral, or anal
intercourse. It also can be passed from an infected mother
to her baby during childbirth. To minimize your risk of contracting
hepatitis B, do not share needles or syringes, or instruments
used in ear-piercing, tattooing, or hair removal. Do not share
toothbrushes or razors. If you have sex, reduce your risk
by using condoms. If you are infected,
avoid sex and other close contact, such as kissing, until
your doctor says it's okay. Hepatitis B is the only sexually
transmitted disease (STD) that can be effectively prevented
by a vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends
vaccination for all newborns in order to prevent infection
of hepatitis B later on. The vaccine is highly effective and
should be strongly considered. Check with your doctor to find
out if you should be vaccinated against it.
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