BROWARD
COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
HOT TOPICS
The Facts on Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is one of the most common, serious infectious diseases in
the world. It is 100 times more
infectious than the AIDS virus (HIV).
The virus can survive outside the body for at least 7 days on a dry
surface. Hepatitis B can be prevented
with a safe and effective vaccine.
What is Hepatitis B? Hepatitis
B (formerly known as serum hepatitis) is a liver disease caused by the
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). The virus
damages the liver and may cause scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver and an increased
risk of liver cancer.
Who is at Risk For Hepatitis B? Anyone
can get hepatitis B. The following
groups are most at risk for HBV. People
in these groups should be tested and/or vaccinated depending on individual risk
factors:
Injected
drug users who share needles;
Medical,
dental, laboratory and emergency care personnel, who have contact with blood or
other body fluids;
Sexually
active adults and teenagers with more than one sexual partner 
in six months;
People
who have sexually transmitted diseases;
Sexually
active homosexual and bisexual men;
Clients/staff
of institutions for the developmentally disabled;
Inmates
of long-term correctional facilities;
Hemodialysis
patients;
Close
household contacts and sexual partners of a HBV carrier;
Infants
born to HBV positive women;
Travelers
to developing countries;
Recipients of blood products before 1975.
How is
Hepatitis B Spread? Hepatitis B virus can be
found in the blood and, to a lesser extent saliva, semen and other body fluids
of an infected person. It is spread by
direct contact with infected body fluids; usually by needle stick injury or
sexual contact. Sharing a toothbrush or
razor with an infected person can also spread HBV. People who get tattoos, ear or body piercing
with unsterile needles are also at risk of becoming
infected with HBV. An infected woman can
give HBV to her baby at birth or through breastfeeding. The virus is not spread by casual
contact.
What
are the symptoms? Many people think they
have the flu and do not attribute their symptoms to HBV infection. The symptoms of hepatitis B include fatigue,
poor appetite, fever, vomiting and occasionally joint pain, hives or rash. Urine may become darker in color, and then
jaundice ( a yellowing of the skin and whites of the
eyes) may appear. Some individuals may
experience mild or no symptoms. A very
small number, about one percent, develop life-threatening acute fulminant (overwhelming) hepatitis from the virus. Acute fulminant
hepatitis develops very suddenly and acutely, and can be fatal if not treated
immediately.
When
do symptoms appear? The symptoms may appear two to six months after exposure, but
usually within three months. It is
important to remember that HBV causes no symptoms at all in about 50% of
cases. About 20-30 years after
infection, cancer of the liver may develop in chronic carriers.
How
is Hepatitis B Diagnosed? Hepatitis B is diagnosed by a blood test. The test will show if you have hepatitis B
and how serious it is. The doctor may
also do a liver biopsy to find signs of hepatitis B and liver damage. The Hepatitis B Foundation website, at
http://www.hepb.org/patients/hepatitis_b_blood_tests.htm,
provides an excellent reference guide to help understand your hepatitis B blood
test results.
What
is The Treatment? Treatment may involve a drug called alfa-interferon,
given by injection over a four month period.
For those persons infected with HBV, who develop antibodies against the
disease, generally bed rest is all that is needed. However, in some cases of chronic hepatitis B
carriers the liver stops working and a liver transplant may be needed.
How
Can Hepatitis B be Prevented? There
is a safe and effective vaccine against HBV. The vaccine is given in three shots over a 6
month period. The vaccine can be given
to babies, children and adults.
Hepatitis B prevention also includes using a condom when having sex; not
sharing drug needles with anyone; wearing gloves when handling blood; not using
anyone’s toothbrush, razor or nail clippers; and making sure all tattooing and
body piercing is done with clean, sterilized tools.
Hepatitis B carriers should:
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