Hepatitis B carriers are found in most family clinics as a result of better testing. One mother I saw frequently only found that she had Hepatitis B Antigen only after her second child was born. Her husband and older child were tested by me and found to be free of Hepatitis B. Both of them were vaccinated against Hepatitis B and still have antibodies in them after 10 years. The mother was tested for her liver function test and alpha fetal protein ( a cancer marker for Liver Cancer) every 6 months. So far she is fine. But there are many Hepatitis B carriers who developed Liver Cancer later on in life.
Hepatitis B ( A Simple Guide to Hepatitis B)is a serious chronic inflammatory liver disease caused by a virus which is called hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Most of the time a person with HBV infection has no symptoms at all.
Older people are more likely to have symptoms.
If you have symptoms, they might include :
1.jaundice (yellowing of the skin and white of eye)
2.dark colored urine
3.pale stools
4.prolonged tiredness
5.nausea and vomiting.
6.poor appetite
7.abdominal pain
8.fever and joint pains
A blood test is the only way to diagnose hepatitis B.
You may be infected with HBV and may even spread it to others without knowing it.
HBV can be spread from an infected mother to her infant during birth. To prevent spread of HBV from infected mothers to their infants, every woman should have her blood tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) during each pregnancy.
There are no medications available for recently acquired (acute) HBV infection. There are antiviral drugs eg interferon which may be able to treat chronic HBV infection.
If you have never been immunized or do not have antibodies from having a previous Hepatitis B infection, you are at risk of Hepatitis B infection.
The Hepatitis B virus is is not spread through food or water, sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, coughing, sneezing, or skin contact.
HBV is spread by exposure to infected blood from skin puncture or contact with mucous membranes.
It is spread by:
1.sexual contact with an infected person
2.an infected mother to her newborn during childbirth
3.a Hepatitis B infected person's blood during blood transfusion
4.sharing of injection needles among drug abusers
5.accidental cuts to the skin by a nail clipper, shaving blade or other instruments that are contaminated with a Hepatitis B infected person's blood
6.contact with an infected person's saliva or blood through cuts or sores in the mouth or skin.
7.during acupuncture, body or ear piercing and tattooing if the needles used are contaminated with Hepatitis B infected person's blood
8.occupational contact with human blood or body fluids
Hepatitis B vaccine is the best prevention against hepatitis B. If you do not have antibodies from a previous infection and if you are not a Hepatitis B carrier, you can get vaccinated against Hepatitis B and protect yourself from its complications.
When the first Hepatitis B vaccine first came out about 20 plus years ago, it was made from serum obtained from patients with hepatitis B virus infection. There was a fear of catching other illness like HIV from it. It cost about $120 per injection. Now it is made using a synthetic recombinant DNA technology which has no blood from carriers. There is no way that you will catch hepatitis B or HIV from this new vaccine. The price has also drop to $25 per injection.
Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all infants, for children and adolescents who were not vaccinated as infants, and for all unvaccinated adults who are at risk for HBV infection as well as any adult who wants to be protected against HBV infection.
The vaccine is safe. It is also extremely effective provided you complete all 3 doses:
1st dose - at the appointed date
2nd dose - 1 month after the 1st dose
3rd dose - 5 months after the 2nd dose
Infants born to infected mothers need to get hepatitis B vaccine and another shot call HBIG (hepatitis B immune globulin) soon after birth to prevent infection.
Besides vaccination,other ways to prevent transmission of HBV are:
1.avoid multiple sexual partners; keep to one sexual partner
2.Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, may reduce the risk of sexually transmitted HBV transmission.
3.Do not inject illegal drugs. Never share needles, syringes or drugs.
4.do not share personal items like razors, toothbrushes or any other instruments that may cause tears to the skin and hence spread of any blood borne infection.
5.seek reliable operators for ear or body piercing, tattooing or acupuncture.
Hepatitis B carriers will need to do the following:
1.you will need to see your doctor every 6 months to a year for tests to check your liver function and blood alpha-foetoprotein which is a cancer marker for liver cancer
2.your immediate family members should go for blood tests. They should get immunized if they are not immune. If they are carriers too, they should go for regular follow up with the doctor.
3.you should take precautions to prevent the spread of hepatitis B to your family and loved ones
4.you should avoid smoking and drinking alcohol as they may further increase the risk of damage to your liver
5.inform your doctor and dentist that you are a carrier
6.do not donate blood, organs or sperm
7.know the symptoms and signs of the various complications and see your doctor at once if you experience any of them.
Hepatitis B can lead to complications like:
1.acute hepatitis (episode of liver inflammation)
2.chronic hepatitis (permanent liver inflammation)
3.liver cirrhosis (permanent scarring and hardening of the liver)
4.liver failure (liver is unable to function,resulting in toxins accumulating in body)
5.liver cancer
Those who recover completely from Hepatitis B infection become immune to the disease.
1 in 10 people who get infected with the virus become carriers who then carries the Hepatitis B virus permanently in his body.
Hepatitis B carriers seldom show any symptoms but they can:
1.spread the disease to others
2.develop serious liver complications such as those mentioned above.
About 15%-25% of people with chronic HBV infection die prematurely from these complications.
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