Hepatitis B
Cause:
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver.
The term ‘hepatitis' means inflammation of the liver and there can be causes other than viruses. There are other hepatitis viruses including hepatitis A, C, D, and E. Hepatitis A, B and C are more common.
Symptoms:
Some people infected with hepatitis B may have no symptoms at all, while others may contract a severe illness with jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin), fever, loss of appetite, tiredness and pain in the joints.
In extreme cases hepatitis can cause serious liver damage.
Generally the illness lasts for a few weeks and passes eventually with rest. Most people are then immune and protected from getting the disease again.
Up to 10 per cent of people who get the virus will have it for life. These people develop a long-term hepatitis B infection and they can pass it on to others even though they may not know they have the disease.
People with long-term hepatitis B may develop liver damage or liver cancer later in their life.
How is it spread?:
Hepatitis B is found in the blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk of an infected person.
It can be passed to another person through:
• Vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom.
• Sharing any personal injecting equipment. Drug users are particularly at risk.
• Tattooing and body piercing equipment that has not been sterilised properly.
• A woman with long-term hepatitis B may pass the infection to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or when breastfeeding.
Treatment:
There is no cure for chronic hepatitis B, however, there are treatments available for people who are infected.
Prevention:
There is a safe, effective vaccine to prevent hepatitis B. This usually involves two or three injections over six months. Any doctor or clinic can arrange hepatitis B vaccination.
Always use condoms for vaginal, anal and oral sex (penis in mouth). Use dams for oral sex (tongue in vagina, tongue in anus) to cover the vagina or anus.
Do not share any drug injecting equipment, including spoons, tourniquets and water.
If you are exposed to hepatitis B, your doctor can give you treatment, which greatly reduces the risk of becoming infected but treatment must start within a few days of exposure.
(Sourced from Sexually Tranmissible Infections: Treatment is good/prevention is best, DHS 2003)