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How Can You Get Hepatitis B

How Can You Avoid Hepatitis B

What is Hepatitis B? | How is Hepatitis B Transmitted?

Getting the vaccine for hepatitis B is the best way toprevent hepatitis B. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe andeffective. It is usually given as 3-4 shots over a 6-monthperiod. You will not get hepatitis B from the vaccine.Ask your health care provider if you should get thisvaccine. It is recommended for:

  • All infants, starting with the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth
  • Everyone under the age of 19 who has not been vaccinated
  • People whose sex partners have hepatitis B
  • Sexually active people who are not in a long-term, faithful relationship
  • People with a sexually transmitted disease
  • People who share needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment
  • People who have close household contact with someone infected with the hepatitis B virus
  • Health care and public safety workers at risk for exposure to blood or body fluids on the job
  • People with kidney disease. This includes all those on dialysis and those being considered for dialysis.
  • Adults with diabetes
    • Before anal sex
    • Before oral sex
  • Have sex with only one partner who does not have sex with others and does not have hepatitis B.
  • Know that other forms of birth control do not protect against hepatitis B.
  • Not using or injecting drugs.
  • Not reusing or sharing syringes, or drug equipment .
  • Wear gloves if you have to touch another person’s blood.
  • Do not use another person’s toothbrush, razor, nail clippers or any other item that might have even a tiny bit of blood on it.
    • Sterile tools

    For more information, see Safer Sex.

    Chronic Hepatitis B Complications

    Chronic hepatitis B can lead to

    • cirrhosis, a condition in which scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue and prevents your liver from working normally. Scar tissue also partly blocks the flow of blood through the liver. As cirrhosis gets worse, the liver begins to fail.
    • liver failure, in which your liver is badly damaged and stops working. Liver failure is also called end-stage liver disease. People with liver failure may require a liver transplant.
    • liver cancer. Your doctor may suggest blood tests and an ultrasound or another type of imaging test to check for liver cancer. Finding cancer at an early stage improves the chance of curing the cancer.

    What Are Signs Of Hepatitis B

    When you first get hepatitis B, it is called acutehepatitis B. Most adults who have hepatitis B willrecover on their own. However, children and someadults can develop chronic hepatitis B.

    Acute hepatitis B: Signs of acute hepatitis B canappear within 3 months after you get the virus.These signs may last from several weeks to 6 months.Up to 50% of adults have signs of acute hepatitis Bvirus infection. Many young children do not show anysigns. Signs include:

    • Yellow skin or eyes
    • Tiredness
    • A longer than normal amount of time for bleedingto stop

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    Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Test

    A hepatitis B surface antigen test shows if youre contagious. A positive result means you have hepatitis B and can spread the virus. A negative result means you dont currently have hepatitis B. This test doesnt distinguish between chronic and acute infection. This test is used together with other hepatitis B tests to determine the .

    What Should You Know About Hepatitis B Before You Travel

    Hepatitis b by Sidny Flores

    Hepatitis B is quite common in China and other Asian countries, where as many as 1 in 12 people have the virus, though many dont know it. Before traveling to those places, you should make sure youve been vaccinated against the virus.

    In addition to getting the vaccine, you can take these additional precautions to reduce your risk of contracting the virus:

    • Refrain from taking illegal drugs.
    • Always use latex or polyurethane condoms during sex.
    • Make sure new, sterile needles are used during all piercings, tattoos and acupuncture sessions.
    • Avoid direct contact with blood and bodily fluids.
    • Know the HBV status of all your sexual partners.
    • Ask your doctor about possible vaccination before you travel to a place where hepatitis B is common.

    A note from Cleveland Clinic

    Hepatitis B is a liver disease that can cause serious damage to your health. One reason that is dangerous is that it can easily go undetected for years while damaging your liver. Talk with your healthcare provider about being tested for hepatitis B if you have any reason to believe that you were not vaccinated or if you have engaged in risky behavior. If you do test positive, follow the directions from your healthcare provider so that you can live a longer, healthier and happier life.

    Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/09/2020.

    References

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    How Do You Know If You Have Hepatitis B

    The only way to know if you have hepatitis B is bya medical exam. There are several blood tests yourhealth care provider can use to diagnose hepatitis B.These tests can tell you:

    • If it is an acute or a chronic infection
    • If you have recovered from infection
    • If you are immune to hepatitis B
    • If you could benefit from vaccination

    Hepatitis B Symptoms & Treatment

    FAST FACTS

    • Hepatitis B is a virus found in infected blood, semen and vaginal fluids.
    • Its a sexually transmitted infection that can be passed on through unprotected sex. You can also get it from contaminated needles and syringes. Its also commonly passed on from a mother to her baby during birth.
    • There is a vaccine to prevent hepatitis B, which is routinely offered to infants as well as at-risk groups.
    • You can prevent hepatitis B by practising safer sex, never sharing needles and syringes, and avoiding unlicensed tattoo parlours and acupuncturists.
    • Most people dont need treatment for acute hepatitis B. If the infection becomes chronic, there is no cure, but it can be managed with treatment.

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    What Is The Outlook For People With Hepatitis B

    The outlook for people with HBV is better now than ever before. You are certainly able to live a full life and help yourself stay healthy. You should make sure to have regular check-ups with a healthcare provider who is qualified to treat hepatitis B, possibly a liver doctor.

    Make sure you are vaccinated against hepatitis A. Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking other medications or over-the-counter products, including supplements and natural products. These could interfere with your medication or damage your liver. For instance, taking acetaminophen in large doses may harm your liver.

    Follow the usual guidelines for living a healthy life:

    • Eat nutritious foods, choosing from a variety of vegetables, fruits and healthy proteins. It is said that cruciferous vegetables are especially good at protecting the liver.
    • Exercise regularly.
    • Dont smoke and dont drink. Both tobacco and alcohol are bad for your liver.
    • Do things that help you cope with stress, like journaling, talking with others, meditating and doing yoga.
    • Avoid inhaling toxic fumes.

    What Is Viral Hepatitis

    The Truth about Hepatitis B

    Viral hepatitis is an inflammation of your liver that’s caused by a virus. There are five types, but the most common ones in the U.S. are hepatitis A, B, and C. All of them affect your liver. Some of the symptoms are similar, but they have different treatments.

    Hepatitis A. This type won’t lead to long-term infection and usually doesn’t cause any complications. Your liver heals in about 2 months. You can prevent it with a vaccine.

    Hepatitis B. Most people recover from this type in 6 months. Sometimes, though, it causes a long-term infection that could lead to liver damage. Once you’ve got the disease, you can spread the virus even if you don’t feel sick. You won’t catch it if you get a vaccine.

    Hepatitis C. Many people with this type don’t have symptoms. About 80% of those with the disease get a long-term infection. It can sometimes lead to cirrhosis, a scarring of the liver. There’s no vaccine to prevent it.

    Also Check: What Is Hepatitis B Vaccine For

    How Is Acute Hepatitis B Treated

    Acute hepatitis B doesnt always require treatment. In most cases, a doctor will recommend monitoring your symptoms and getting regular blood tests to determine whether the virus is still in your body.

    While you recover, allow your body to rest and drink plenty of fluids to help your body fight off the infection. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen , to help with any abdominal pain you have.

    See a doctor if your symptoms are severe or seem to be getting worse. You may need to take a prescription antiviral medication to avoid potential liver damage.

    Like acute hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis B may not require medical treatment to avoid permanent liver damage. In some patients, monitoring symptoms and getting regular liver tests is appropriate.

    Treatment generally involves antiviral medications, such as:

    • peginterferon alfa-2a injections
    • antiviral tablets, such as tenofovir or entecavir

    Antiviral medications can help to reduce symptoms and prevent liver damage. But they rarely completely get rid of the hepatitis B virus. Instead, the goal of treatment is to have the lowest viral load possible. Viral load refers to the amount of a virus in a blood sample.

    Theres no cure for hepatitis B, but the condition is easily preventable by taking a few precautions. Hepatitis B is often spread through sexual contact, shared needles, and accidental needle sticks.

    You can reduce your risk of developing hepatitis B or spreading the virus to others by:

    Who Are Hepatitis B Carriers

    Hepatitis B carriers are people who have the hepatitis B virus in their blood, even though they dont feel sick. Between 6% and 10% of those people whove been infected with the virus will become carriers and can infect others without knowing it. There are over 250 million people in the world who are carriers of HBV, with about 10% to 15% of the total located in India. Children are at the highest risk of becoming carriers. About 9 in 10 babies infected at birth become HBV carriers, and about half of children who are infected between birth and age 5 carry the virus. A blood test can tell you if you are a hepatitis B carrier.

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    Hiv And Hbv Coinfection

    About 2% of people with HIV in the United States are coinfected with HBV both infections have similar routes of transmission. People with HIV are at greater risk for complications and death from HBV infection. All people with HIV are recommended to be tested for HBV, and if susceptible, are further recommended to receive the hepatitis B vaccination or, if chronically infected, evaluated for treatment to prevent liver disease and liver cancer. For more information about HIV and HBV coinfection, visit HIV.govâs pages about hepatitis B and HIV coinfection.

    What Are The Symptoms

    Symptoms of Hepatitis B
    • Symptoms can take 2 to 6 months to appear.
    • Many people who are infected with hepatitis B have either no symptoms or only mild symptoms.
    • Symptoms of acute hepatitis B can include fatigue, loss of appetite, joint pain, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and dark urine. A small number of people will develop jaundice .
    • Some people develop chronic hepatitis B and most remain contagious for the rest of their lives. Chronic infection may lead to cirrhosis and/or liver cancer. Most people with chronic hepatitis B are unaware of their infection.

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    If I Am Infected How Can I Prevent Passing On The Virus To Others

    If you have a current hepatitis B infection you should:

    • Avoid having sex with anyone until they have been fully immunised and checked with a blood test to see that the immunisation has worked.
    • Not share any injecting equipment such as needles, syringes, etc.
    • Not donate blood or semen or carry a donor card.
    • Not share razors, toothbrushes, etc, that may be contaminated with blood.
    • Cover any cuts or wounds with a dressing.
    • Make sure that, if any of your blood spills on to the floor or other surfaces following an accident, it is cleaned away with bleach.

    Prevention Tips For Hepatitis B

    Hepatitis B Prevention Measures

    Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable disease. More than 1 billion doses of the hepatitis B vaccine have been given worldwide, and it is considered to be a very safe and effective vaccine to protect infants, children and adults from hepatitis B. Learn more.

    All sexual partners, family and close household members living with a chronically infected person should be tested and vaccinated. It is important to remember that hepatitis B is not spread casually! It is not spread by coughing, sneezing, hugging, cooking and sharing food. It is spread through direct contact with infected blood and bodily fluids.

    Additional Prevention Measures

    In addition to vaccination, there are other simple ways to help stop the spread of hepatitis B:

    • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after any potential exposure to blood
    • Use condoms with sexual partners
    • Avoid direct contact with blood and bodily fluids
    • Clean up blood spills with a fresh diluted bleach solution
    • Cover all cuts carefully
    • Avoid sharing sharp items such as razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and earrings or body rings
    • Discard sanitary napkins and tampons into plastic bags
    • Avoid illegal street drugs
    • Make sure new, sterile needles are used for ear or body piercing, tattoos, and acupuncture

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    Who’s Most At Risk Of Hepatitis B

    People at highest risk of hepatitis B include:

    • people born or brought up in a country where the infection is common
    • babies born to mothers infected with hepatitis B
    • people who have ever injected drugs
    • anyone who has had unprotected sex, including anal or oral sex particularly people who have had multiple sexual partners, people who have had sex with someone in or from a high-risk area, men who have sex with men, and commercial sex workers
    • close contacts, such as family members, of someone with a long-term hepatitis B infection

    The risk of getting hepatitis B for travellers going to places where the infection is common is generally considered to be low if these activities are avoided.

    Your GP can arrange for you to have a blood test to check for hepatitis B and have the hepatitis B vaccination if you’re at a high risk.

    Whats The Prognosis For Hepatitis B

    Treatment of Hepatitis B 2019: Easy to Treat, Hard to Understand!

    Your doctor will know youâve recovered when you no longer have symptoms and blood tests show:

    • Your liver is working normally.
    • You have hepatitis B surface antibody.

    But some people don’t get rid of the infection. If you have it for more than 6 months, youâre whatâs called a carrier, even if you donât have symptoms. This means you can give the disease to someone else through:

    • Unprotected sex

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    What Is My Risk

    Your risk depends of several factors: destination, length of stay, what you do when you are travelling and whether you have direct contact with blood or other body fluids. In certain destinations, your risk may be higher, as some areas have higher numbers of people with chronic hepatitis B in the general population.

    The risk increases with certain activities, such as unprotected sex, sharing needles, tattooing and acupuncture.

    Aid and health care workers and anyone who receives medical or dental care with unsterilized or contaminated equipment in a country where hepatitis B occurs are also at greater risk.

    Treatment For The Short

    No treatment can clear the germ from the body. If you develop symptoms when first infected, treatment aims to help ease symptoms until they go – for example, drinking plenty of water to avoid lack of fluid in the body . Rarely, a severe hepatitis develops which may need hospital care. No treatment can prevent acute hepatitis B from becoming persistent .

    Recommended Reading: Hepatitis C Treatment Guidelines 2017

    Hiv And Hepatitis B And Hepatitis C Coinfection

    Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are liver infections caused by a virus. Because these infections can be spread in the same ways as HIV, people with HIV in the United States are often also affected by chronic viral hepatitis.

    Viral hepatitis progresses faster and causes more liver-related health problems among people with HIV than among those who do not have HIV. Liver disease, much of which is related to HBV or HCV, is a major cause of non-AIDS-related deaths among people with HIV.

    Given the risks of hepatitis B or hepatitis C coinfection to the health of people living with HIV, it is important to understand these risks, take steps to prevent infection, know your status, and, if necessary, get medical care from someone who is experienced in treating people who are coinfected with HIV and HBV, or HIV and HCV.

    Symptoms Of Hepatitis B

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    Many people with hepatitis B will not experience any symptoms and may fight off the virus without realising they had it.

    If symptoms do develop, they tend to happen 2 or 3 months after exposure to the hepatitis B virus.

    Symptoms of hepatitis B include:

    • flu-like symptoms, including tiredness, a fever, and general aches and pains
    • loss of appetite
    • tummy pain
    • yellowing of the skin and eyes

    These symptoms will usually pass within 1 to 3 months , although occasionally the infection can last for 6 months or more .

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    How Does A Person Get Hepatitis

    A person can get hepatitis A through the following sources:

    • Food or water contaminated with the fecal matter of an infected person
    • Sexual contact

    A person can get hepatitis B in many ways, which include:

    • Having sexual contact with an infected person
    • Sharing needles
    • Being in direct contact with an infected persons blood
    • Transferred from mother to the fetus
    • Getting an infected needle prick
    • Being in contact with an infected persons body fluid

    A person can get hepatitis C through:

    • Sharing infected needles
    • Being in direct contact with an infected persons blood
    • Getting an infected needle prick
    • Having sexual contact with an infected person

    Hepatitis D can be spread through:

    • Transferred from mother to the fetus
    • Being in contact with the infected fluid or blood
    • A person can get hepatitis D only if they are infected previously with hepatitis B.

    Hepatitis E mainly infects people who eat or drink food or water contaminated with the virus. Under-cooked foods can also spread hepatitis E. It is more dangerous in pregnant women.

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