5 Things about Hepatitis B

1. Hepatitis B, like hepatitis A, is a viral infection of the liver; the only difference is that the former is more severe because of its capacity to turn chronic. The infection can be detected via blood samples. The virus of the hepatitis B is transmitted from one person to another via body liquids, including blood, semen, and vaginal fluids (including menstrual blood), but also from mother to child during pregnancy. Still, most people get the infection during adolescence and adult age.

2. Acute infection usually goes away by itself, without treatment. Some patients do not have any symptom. Those having symptoms feel them only 2-3 weeks later and recover completely in 4-8 weeks. In others, recovery can last longer. Chronic infections appear when the virus of the hepatitis B is still present in the blood and the liver for 6 months and longer. The chronic infection can cause severe affections, like cirrhosis and liver cancer.

3. Chronic infection develops in the case of up to 90% of the children infected at birth, 30% of the children infected at the age of 1 to 5 years and about 5% of those aged over 5 years. Two drugs are administered against chronic hepatitis B: interpheron alpha-2b (injectable vials) and lamivudine (tablets). Each medicine has its pros and cons and is efficient on long term in less than 50% of the patients. Lamivudine is preferred because it is cheaper and has almost no secondary effect but, in most cases, the treatment is combined.

4. Vaccination can prevent the infection with the virus of hepatitis B, having an efficiency of 95% when all the 3 injections (administered at different intervals) are made. Even if the vaccine is not widely used amongst adults, those at risk should be vaccinated. Categories recommended for vaccination are:

- newborn children;

- persons aged 18 or younger who have never received the vaccine;

- persons using illegal drugs;

- persons with more than one sex partner in the last 6 months or with a history of STDs;

- gay men;

- persons with blood clotting issues, like in the case of hemophilia, and who have received clotting factors from human donors;

- persons with kidney failure, dependent on a dialysis apparatus;

- persons working in the health system, and who are exposed to blood contact in various situations;

- the personnel and the residents of prisons and institutions caring for disabled persons;

- persons about to spend more than 6 months in areas where hepatitis B is frequent and a large number of people have it as a chronic infection, like South, Southeastern and Central Asia, the Pacific Islands, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, ex-USSR countries and China.

In some cases, the medic can ask for a post-vaccine test, to see if the person has developed immunity to the virus of hepatitis B. These tests are necessary for those experiencing immune depression, those working in the medical system, and those having a partner with chronic infection. If the person was exposed to the virus before receiving the three shots of vaccine, they should receive a dose of immunoglobulin type hepatitis B (IGHB) as soon as possible. In most cases, IGHB prevents infection until the effect of the vaccine kicks in. If one has had sex with someone with hepatitis B but has not received the three shots, one should be administered a shot with IGHB on the spot; even more, that person will also receive another vaccine of the same type as late as 14 days after the exposure.

5. In order to avoid infection:

- Do not have sex with strangers and use a condom in case of any doubt about the health of the partner;

- Do not lend needles, used or even unpacked syringes;

- Use latex or rubber gloves if you must touch blood;

- Do not lend toothbrushes or razors.

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