Hepatitis B (Hbv) Overview

Research showed about 1 in 12 people in the world are living with either chronic Hepatitis B or chronic Hepatitis C. This is a matter of concern that out 2 of 3 chronically infected persons are not aware they have been infected.

Risk Groups:

• Persons with multiple sex partners or having any sexually transmitted disease.
• Sex contacts of a infected person.
• Infants born to infected mothers.
• Health care and public safety workers with exposure to blood.
• Injection and illicit drug users.
• Families of children adopted from areas with high rates of HBV infection.
• Hemodialysis (method for removing waste products such as creatinine and urea, as well as free water from the blood when the kidneys are in renal failure.) patients.

How is HBV transmitted:

Mother To Child Infection: HBV can be transmitted from a chronically infected mother to her child during birthing process. Many pregnant mothers with chronic Hepatitis B are unaware of their infection and end up silently passing the virus to the next generation.

Blood-Borne Infection: HBV can be transmitted through direct contact with infected blood. This including wound to wound contact, injection, sharing of needles (like tattoos), piercing, acupuncture, reusing medical devices.  Also, sharing razor and tooth brushes that are contaminated by blood.

Sexually Transmitted Infections: HBV can be transmitted through unprotected sex with a infected person. Protected sex can reduce the risk of infection but certainly cannot eliminate it. The vaccination is the most effective way to protect against HBV.

As we know Hepatitis B cannot be treated. Because there is no specific treatment for Hepatitis B. In the cases of acute Hepatitis B, infection last from one to six months, during which time the person is continually infectious.  Although 90% to 95% of adults recover from Hepatitis B completely but 5% to 10% develop chronic cases of Hepatitis B.

Symptoms of Hepatitis B:

• Fever, fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain.
• Jaundice
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Bloated and swollen stomach

Jaundice, Severe nausea and bloated stomach are serious symptoms of Hepatitis B.

It is always advisable to consult your doctor if you are not feeling well and having any of these symptoms.

Hepatitis B- The Silent Killer