Hepatitis B

Alternative Names

Type Bhepatitis, Serum hepatitis, Homologous serum jaundice, Australia antigen hepatitisHB

What is Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a type of hepatitis. It is a serious liver inflammation caused by the HBV (hepatitis B virus) that affects hominoidea, including humans. Usually the virus is spread by exposure to infected blood or body secretions. In infected individuals, the virus can exist in the blood, semen, vaginal discharge, breast milk and saliva. Hepatitis B is not transmitted by food, water, holding hands, kissing, hugging, coughing and breastfeeding.

HPV is a hepadnavirus (hepatotropic) or attracted to the liver. Hepatitis B can be acute and chronic. Usually adults who get hepatitis B have it for a short period of time and recover from the disease. This is acute hepatitis B. In some cases it can turn into a chronic illness and lead to liver failure, liver cancer or cirrhosis.

Signs and symptoms

You may notice signs and symptoms of hepatitis about three months after you have been infected. The can vary from mild to severe. The symptoms of the virus include:

• feeling very tired
• mild fever
• headache
• not wanting to eat
• feeling sick to your stomach or vomiting
• belly pain
• diarrhea or constipation
• muscle aches and joint pain
• skin rash
• yellowish eyes and skin (jaundice)

Possible complications

A chronic HBV infection can become a reason of the following complications:

• scarring of the liver (cirrhosis)
• liver cancer
• liver failure
• hepatitis D infection
• kidney problems

What causes

HBV is spread by the following ways:

• sexual contact; you may become infected if you have unprotected sexual contact with an infected partner whose blood, saliva, semen or vaginal secretions enter your body
• sharing of needles; HBV is easily transmitted through needles and syringes contaminated with infected blood
• accidental needle sticks; hepatitis B is a concern for health care workers and anyone else who comes in contact with human blood
• mother to child; a pregnant women infected with HBV can pass the virus to their babies during childbirth

Prevention

The best way to prevent the infection is to get vaccinated. The vaccine consists of 3 or 4 shots. The hepatitis B vaccine is highly recommended for:

• all infants, beginning at birth
• all children and adolescents who weren't vaccinated at birth
• anyone being treated for a sexually transmitted infection
• developmentally disabled people who live in an institutional setting
• health care workers, emergency workers and other people who come into contact with blood on the job
• anyone infected with HIV
• men who have sex with men
• people who have multiple sexual partners
• people with chronic liver disease
• people who inject illicit drugs
• people who live with someone who has hepatitis B
• people with end-stage kidney disease
• sexual partners of someone who has hepatitis B
• travelers planning to go to an area of the world with a high hepatitis B infection rate

People may also use a combination vaccine (Twinrix) that protects against both hepatitis B and hepatitis A.

In order not to get the virus or spread it to others:

• use a condom when you have sex
• do not share needles
• wear latex or plastic gloves if you have to touch blood
• do not share toothbrushes or razors

Treatment

In common cases adults infected with hepatitis B recover fully, even if they have serious signs and symptoms. Infants and children more often develop a chronic hepatitis B infection. There is no special treatment for hepatitis B. You can only prevent the disease by vaccinating. If you're already infected, take the precaution measures to prevent spreading HBV to others.

If you have acute HBV you may not need the treatment course, because it is short-lived and will leave on its own. It is recommended to check your blood to make sure that the HBV has left your body.

If you have chronic hepatitis B infection, your doctor may recommend:

• antiviral medications
• liver transplant, if you have a serious liver damage