Enlighten us about Hepatitis B

The World Hepatitis Day was marked on 28th July, and according to the World Health Organization, WHO, many people worldwide are afflicted with hepatitis. Please use your weekly column to enlighten us about Chronic Hepatitis B.

Gloria G.

Thanks Gloria for your question. Let us start by understanding Hepatitis which is a general term referring to inflammation of the liver. The liver can become inflamed as a result of infection, a disorder of the immune system or exposure to alcohol, certain medications, toxins, or poisons.

Hepatitis B is caused by infection with the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV ). This infection has 2 phases: acute and chronic. Acute (new, short-term) Hepatitis B occurs shortly after exposure to the virus. A small number of people develop a very severe, life-threatening form of acute hepatitis called fulminant hepatitis. Chronic (ongoing, longterm) Hepatitis B is an infection with HBV that lasts longer than six months. People with chronic HBV infection are called chronic carriers. About two-thirds of these people do not themselves get sick or die of the virus, but they can transmit it to other people.

Causes of Hepatitis B

1. The Hepatitis B virus is known as a blood-borne virus because it is transmitted from one person to another via blood.

2. Semen which contains small amounts of blood, also carry the virus.

3. The virus can be transmitted whenever any of these bodily fluids come in contact with the broken skin or a mucous membrane (in the mouth, genital organs, or rectum) of an uninfected person.

People who are include the following:

1. Men or women who have multiple sex partners, especially if they don’t use a condom

2. Men or women who have sex with a person infected with HBV

3. People with other sexually transmitted diseases

4. People who inject drugs with shared needles

5. People who receive transfusions of blood or blood products

6. People who undergo dialysis for kidney disease

7. Health care workers who are stuck with needles or other sharp instruments contaminated with infected blood

8. Infants born to infected mothers at risk

One will not get Hepatitis B from the following activities:

1. Being sneezed or coughed on. 2. Hugging.

3. Handshaking. 4. Breastfeeding.

5. Eating food or drinking water.

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis B?

Half of all people infected with the Hepatitis B virus have no symptoms.

Symptoms develop within 30-180 days of exposure to the virus. The symptoms are often confused with flu. Most people think they have flu and never think about having HBV infection.

1. Appetite loss

2. Feeling tired

3. Nausea and vomiting

4. Itching all over the body

5. Pain over the liver (on the right side of the abdomen, under the lower rib cage)

6. Jaundice - A condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow in color

7. Urine becomes dark in color (like cola or tea).

8. Stools are pale in color (grayish or clay colored).

How to diagnose Hepatitis B?

Both acute and chronic Hepatitis B infections are diagnosed by blood tests serology and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests in a pathology laboratory. Treatment options

Antiviral treatment is available and is of benefit to some people with chronic Hepatitis B infection.

Preventive measures?

1. All donated blood and organs are screened for evidence of Hepatitis B infection

2. Practice safer sexual intercourse – use condoms consistently and correctly

3. Injecting drug users should never share injecting equipment

4. If required to handle blood or body fluids, the routine use of standard precautions will reduce the risk of transmission of Hepatitis B virus.

5. There is a safe and effective vaccine available for Hepatitis B for infants and those at higher risk of Hepatitis B infection and/or higher risk of severe disease.