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- Acute vs. Chronic Hepatitis B
- How is Hepatitis B Passed?
- Who is at Risk?
- Long-term Health Issues from Chronic Hepatitis B Infection
- How to Get Tested for Hepatitis B
- Living with Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a virus that can be passed from person to person. The hepatitis B virus is also referred to as hep B or HBV. Hepatitis means “inflammation of the liver”. If hepatitis B is not managed, the virus can cause damage to the liver or liver cancer. Hepatitis B does not always need to be treated right away, but treatments are available when they are needed.
We have a vaccine that can prevent most cases of the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B vaccines are very safe and can be 98 to 100% effective at protecting us against the hep B virus. [1]
Acute vs. Chronic Hepatitis B
HBV can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Acute hepatitis B can range from mild to severe and symptoms begin within 6 months of the virus entering the body, and last less than 6 months. The body usually clears the virus with no or minimal long-term complications. Sometimes, a person clears the virus on their own, and may not even know they have had hep B because they had no symptoms or symptoms were mild. [2, 3] When acute hep B is severe it may require treatment in the hospital. [3]
Chronic hepatitis B infection lasts longer than 6 months and may need to be treated to prevent liver damage or liver cancer. [3] Chronic hepatitis B symptoms that last more than six months, as result of the body failing to clear the virus on its own. Children and infants with hep B are more likely to develop chronic hepatitis B infection compared to adults. Chronic hepatitis B should be monitored so treatment can begin when it is needed. Learn more about treating hepatitis B.
How is Hepatitis B Passed?
Hepatitis B is passed between people through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of a person who has the hepatitis B virus (also known as being HBV-positive). Body fluids are semen, vaginal fluid, saliva, enough fluid, and blood.
Some of the major ways hep B is passed between people are:
- Direct contact with an infected person’s blood and/or bodily fluids.
- From parent to infant during birth.
- Unprotected sex
- Sharing drug use equipment
- Unsterilized or improperly sterilized medical equipment (ie. needles).
Receiving services such as acupuncture, visiting a nail salon or spa, or getting a piercing or tattoo may pass the virus between people if supplies are reused without being properly sterilized–if receiving services, you have the right to ask your provider about their practices! Sharing razors, toothbrushes or nail clippers are some other examples of ways a person could contract hepatitis B.
The incubation period (time between exposure to the virus and symptoms occurring, if they do develop) for the hepatitis B virus is anywhere between 60 to 150 days, with symptoms beginning on average 90 days after exposure. The virus also can stay alive in dried blood for up to seven days.
Who is at Risk?
There are certain groups of people that have a higher risk of hepatitis B infection. Some of these risk factors are:
- Vertical transmission–where the parent who gives birth passes the virus to the baby
- Having unprotected sex with multiple partners
- Having unprotected sex with a person who has hepatitis B
- Sharing drug use equipment such as needles, cookers or syringes
- Being a gay or bisexual man who has sex with men
- Living with somebody who has a chronic hepatitis B infection
- Being employed in a field in which you regularly have contact with human blood and/or bodily fluids
- Being born in or traveling to areas with high HBV infection rates such as:
- Asia
- The Pacific Islands
- Africa
- Eastern Europe
Long-Term Health Issues from Chronic HBV Infection
Many health conditions are associated with long-term chronic hepatitis B infection. Some of the most common health complications are:
- Liver cancer
- Acute liver failure
- Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver resulting in permanent damage)
- Inflammation of blood vessels
- Kidney disease
- Hepatitis D*
- Extra-hepatic manifestations of hepatitis B
*Hepatitis D can only occur in a person who already has a chronic hepatitis B infection at the time of contracting the hepatitis D virus. Learn more about hepatitis D.
How to get Tested for Hepatitis B
Getting tested for hepatitis B or C requires just a simple blood test from your arm. Any doctor or nurse practitioner in BC can refer you for a blood test. Learn more about testing.
Living with Hepatitis B
Wendy is a peer living with hepatitis B. We thank her for joining us to share her story for this video.
Sources
- https://hepatitiseducation.med.ubc.ca/types-of-viral-hepatitis/hepatitis-b/
- http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b
- https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/bfaq.htm#bFAQa04
- https://www.liver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/HBV-QR-EN-_FINAL_Web.pdf
- https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/hbvfaq.htm
- https://www.liver.ca/patients-caregivers/liver-diseases/hepatitis-b/