Hepatitis B
Essential facts
What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a virus which infects the
liver. It is present in both the blood and body fluids of infected people.
Adults who are infected may have no
symptoms or they may become ill. Symptoms may include fever, abdominal
pain, dark urine, nausea and jaundice (yellow skin and eyes). After
infection, most adults recover and become immune to the virus. A few
people do not clear the virus. They become carriers and may infect other
people.
Hepatitis B carriers
Carriers of hepatitis B have been infected
and their immune system has not been able to clear the virus from the
body.
Hepatitis B carriers may experience no
health problems or over a period of years may develop liver disease such
as cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver or liver cancer.
If you are a carrier of hepatitis B:
- have regular blood tests to check your
liver
- drink as little alcohol as possible
- use condoms for sex unless you are sure
your partners have been vaccinated against hepatitis B
- steady sex partners and people living in
your household should be vaccinated against hepatitis B
- you should be tested for hepatitis A and
vaccinated against it if the test shows that you are not already
immune
- advise health care workers, including
your dentist, that you are a carrier of hepatitis B
- do not donate blood, semen or other body
organs or tissues.
How is hepatitis B transmitted?
Hepatitis B is spread by blood-to-blood
contact or by having sex with an infected person. Oral sex may transmit
hepatitis B, especially swallowing semen from an infected man.
A high risk for blood contact is the
sharing of needles or equipment with injecting drug users, who may not
know they are infectious.
Sharing razors or toothbrushes with an
infectious person may spread the disease.
Health workers may be at risk by accidental
needlestick injuries.
Women who are hepatitis B carriers may
infect their babies around the time of birth. Since 2000, all babies are
vaccinated soon after birth, reducing the risk of becoming carriers or
contracting the infection later in life.
To prevent spreading or contracting the
infection:
- do not share injecting drug equipment
- use condoms with sex partners
- do not share razors or toothbrushes
- do not allow your blood or body fluids
to come into contact with others.
Are you at risk?
Most Australians are at low risk of
contracting hepatitis B infection. However, some groups have a higher risk
of infection.
These include:
Testing for hepatitis B
Hepatitis B infection can be diagnosed from
a blood test. Different tests are available; you should discuss the
results carefully with your doctor to make sure you understand what they
mean.
Hepatitis B surface antigen
is present in the blood of people who are infected with hepatitis B virus.
Most adults will clear the virus from the body usually after several
months to a year. If the hepatitis B virus is not cleared from the body
(i.e. in carriers), the surface antigen remains positive for life.
Hepatitis B core antibody
is present in the blood of people who have been infected with hepatitis B
in the past. It is present in carriers of hepatitis B, but also in people
who have cleared the virus from their body. If the surface antibody is
negative, people with positive core antibody are immune to hepatitis B.
They are not carriers and there is no risk of transmitting the virus to
others or developing hepatitis B-related liver complications later.
Hepatitis B surface antibody
is positive in people who have been exposed to hepatitis B previously but
have cleared the virus from their body. It is also usually positive in
people who have been vaccinated against hepatitis B. People who test
positive for surface antibody are immune to hepatitis B or are vaccinated;
they are not carriers.
Should you be vaccinated?
If you are in a high risk group, or are in
a sexual relationship with a person in a high risk group, you should be
vaccinated.
Clinic 275 offers vaccination if you or
your regular sex partner(s) are in a high risk group.
In addition, people infected with hepatitis
C virus may be offered vaccination (because hepatitis B infection may be
more severe in these people).
Others at risk, such as health workers and
people from countries where hepatitis B is common (e.g. Asia, Africa, the
Middle East and Pacific Islands), should see their local doctor, council,
or community health centre for advice and vaccination.
What is vaccination?
Vaccination requires 3 injections over 6
months. You need to complete the course for full protection. If you do not
return on time for a vaccination, the clinic can send you a reminder, if
you choose. After a complete vaccination course, most people will be
immune to hepatitis B for the rest of their life. Booster doses of vaccine
are no longer recommended.
You should not be vaccinated when you have
a high temperature. Wait until you are well.
Usually there is little reaction to the
vaccine. However, some people have a sore arm at the vaccine site. A few
people may have a headache, diarrhoea or simply feel unwell.
Results of vaccination
You will be protected against hepatitis B
infection. If you come into contact with the hepatitis B virus, you will
not become unwell, nor will you become a carrier of the virus.
You will not be protected against
hepatitis C virus, hepatitis A virus, HIV, or any other sexually
transmitted infection. |
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