Hepatitis B is a viral infection that’s transmitted in bodily fluids, such as through unprotected sex and sharing needles. You can be protected by a vaccine.
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Hepatitis B is caused by a virus, known as the hepatitis B virus or HBV. This virus is transmitted through infected bodily fluids. This includes unprotected sex; sharing of needles for drug use, tattoos, or in a healthcare setting; mother to baby; and sharing personal items like toothbrushes that are contaminated with saliva.
Symptoms
After the virus gets into the body, it enters liver cells and begins replicating. Many people have few or no symptoms during this initial infection. However, others develop symptoms of liver failure, including nausea and vomiting, yellow skin, dark urine, abdominal pain, and severe fatigue. This part of the illness can be fatal for some people, although most people recover from it. For most people, the infection is over at this point, with the body’s immune system having cleared the virus out.
However, not everyone clears the virus completely. In some people, the infection enters a chronic stage. These patients may simply be carriers of the virus, able to transmit it to others but never suffering symptoms. However, some develop cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer.
Diagnosis
Hepatitis B is diagnosed by a blood test. This blood test can determine whether the person has been exposed to hepatitis B, whether the virus is still present, and whether the infection occurred recently or long ago. It can also be used to determine whether someone who has received the hepatitis B vaccine has achieved full immunity to the virus or needs a booster shot.
Treatment
For those in the initial phase of the infection, treatment is only necessary if liver failure is severe enough to threaten life.
In the chronic phase, blood tests are used to determine whether there is liver damage or not. In most cases, those who are simply carriers but don’t have liver damage don’t need to take medications. However, those who have chronic hepatitis B with liver damage can be given a combination of medications, including antiviral drugs and immune system modulators, to help keep the virus under control. Such patients need to avoid substances that can further damage the liver, including alcohol, certain medications (including over-the-counter medications), and certain herbs and supplements.
Prevention/Vaccination
There is an effective vaccine against hepatitis B. In Singapore, hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for healthcare workers, drug users, and anyone else who may be exposed to bodily fluids. It’s often given to newborns, to protect them in case they are at risk later in life, and to prevent infants born to infected mothers from developing the infection.
Another way to prevent hepatitis B is to avoid coming into contact with infected bodily fluids. Even if you’ve had the vaccine, there are other dangerous pathogens which can be transmitted in bodily fluids, so it’s important to be careful. Avoid coming into contact with blood, such as through sharing needles during drug use or tattooing, or touching blood with bare hands. Avoid unprotected sex unless both you and your partner are monogamous; otherwise, use a condom every time you have sex. Avoid sharing personal items such as utensils and toothbrushes, especially with people you don’t know well.
References
Hepatitis B at Shim Clinic, Singapore