What is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is caused by a virus which affects the liver. The virus can be present and passed on in semen, vaginal secretions, saliva and especially blood by:
- vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom
- sharing needles, syringes and drug injecting equipment
- childbirth (from an infected woman to her child during birth)
- sharing tooth brushes, razors or personal items that may lead to the exchange of bodily secretions
- any form of blood – contaminated sharp injury
How do you know if you have Hepatitis B?
Symptoms develop usually within 3 months and can range from no symptoms through to a mild flu – like illness that may not be noticed, to nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
Most adults (95%) who acquire Hepatitis B recover and develop lifelong immunity, which means they are no longer infectious. However, between 5 – 10% of people remain infectious for many years and are called “carriers”. It is important to have follow – up tests 3 to 6 months after the initial positive test to see if you are a carrier or not.
How do you test for Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is detected by a blood test.
What are the complications of Hepatitis B?
Acute Hepatitis B is occasionally so severe it can be life threatening. Long term Hepatitis B carriers may suffer chronic Hepatitis which may predispose them to cirrhosis of the liver; liver failure or cancer of the liver. It is highly likely that a pregnant mother who is a carrier will pass the infection on to her child; however, giving the baby a special globulin injection and Hepatitis B vaccine immediately at birth can prevent this. Babies who are infected at birth have a very high chance of ending up as carriers and of having liver disease in adulthood.
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