How is Hepatitis B transmitted?

Hepatitis B is transmitted directly and indirectly through infected body fluids such as blood, semen, and vaginal secretions; the infection can also be picked up through mucous membranes and broken skin.

Although hepatitis B is commonly transmitted by sexual contact, it can also be picked up through:

-Exposure to the blood of an infected person through contact sports

-Repeatedly sharing an infected person's razor, toothbrush or earrings

-Travel to a high-risk area

-Use of illicit injectable drugs

-Potentially through contaminated needl used for tattooing or piercing

About one third of those infected do not know the source of their infection.

If a person is HBsAg positive, can he/she pass the virus by sharing cups or straws?

Casual contact—such as sharing drinking cups, straws, or other eating utensils—has not been associated with HBV transmission.

How do you know if you have hepatitis B?

You may have hepatitis B (and be spreading the disease) and you don't know; sometimes a person with HBV infection has no symptoms at all. Only a blood test can tell for sure.
If you have hepatitis B symptoms:

    -your eyes or skin may turn yellow

     -you may lose your appetite

   -you may have nausea. vomiting, fever, stomach or joint pain     

   -you may feel extremely tired and not be able to work for weeks or months

What does the term "hepatitis B carrier" mean?

Hepatitis B carriers are people who have chronic (long-term)

infection with HBV and never recover fully from the infection;

they carry the virus and can infect others for the rest of their lives.    

  Is there a cure for hepatitis B?

There is no cure for hepatitis B when you first get it.

That is why prevention is so important. Hepatitis B vaccine is the best protection against HBV. Three doses are commonly needed for complete protection.

 What are the risks from hepatitis B vaccine?

If you are pregnant, should you worry about hepatitis B?

If you have HBV in your blood, you can give hepatitis B to your baby. Babies who get HBV at birth may have the virus for the rest of their lives, can spread the disease, and can get cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer.

All pregnant women should be tested for HBV early in their pregnancy. If the blood test is positive, the baby should receive vaccine along with another shot, hepatitis B immune globulin (called HBIG), at birth. The second dose of vaccine should be given at 1-2 months of age and the third dose at 6 months of age.

How long does hepatitis B vaccine protect you?

Current data show that vaccine-induced hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) levels may decline over time; however, immune memory (anamnestic anti-HBs response) remains intact indefinitely following immunization. Persons with declining antibody levels are still protected against clinical illness and chronic disease.
        For health care workers with normal immune status who have demonstrated an anti-HBs response following vaccination, booster doses of vaccine are not recommended nor is periodic anti-HBs testing.

Does giving hepatitis B vaccine to a chronically infected person cause any harm?

No, it will neither harm nor help the person.

How long should a person wait to donate blood after a dose of hepatitis B vaccine?

Recent data have shown transient HBsAg positivity as late as 21 days after a dose of hepatitis B vaccine. Based on these data, waiting one month until donation is advisable

If you want to test and vaccinate your patient for hepatitis B on the same day, does it matter if you test or vaccinate first?

It might. You should draw the blood first and then administer the first dose of vaccine, because transient HBsAg-positivity has been found to occur after a dose of hepatitis B vaccine.

I was immunized against hepatitis B about 4 years ago. Then I was recently found "hepatitis B positive". Is this possible? Could it be a false positive?

It is possible, but unlikely that the result is a false positive as the HBsAg assay has high sensitivity and specificity. She may have already been HBsAg-positive before she was vaccinated. Therefore, the vaccine would not have been effective

If someone is found to have chronic HBV infection, does everyone in that person's household need to receive hepatitis B vaccine and HBIG?

All susceptible household members and sex partners of persons with chronic HBV infection should be vaccinated.