Hepatitis B Symptoms - Hepatitis B Testing & Screening

Did you know..

The Hepatitis B virus is 100 times more infectious that the HIV virus, that means if you have sex with someone with Hepatitis B and HIV, you are 100 times more likely to catch the Hepaitits B virus. click here to see the full article

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver, which can follow a variable course. The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause an acute illness that resolves itself quickly without causing long-term liver damage. However, in about 20% of cases it can cause a chronic illness that lasts more than six months, sometimes for life, with symptoms that come and go. In 15-40% of those with chronic infection cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure develops, and so the infection may eventually be fatal.

How can I get it?

The Hepatitis B virus is usually transmitted through contact with infected blood or body fluids and can be sexually transmitted. Only a tiny amount of blood is needed to transmit the virus because it's so infectious. The Hepatitis B virus may also be present in saliva, vaginal secretions, breast milk and other bodily fluids. In the UK, infection commonly occurs through unprotected sexual intercourse, the sharing of contaminated needles by drugs users, accidental injury with a contaminated needle (if needles used for tattooing, body piercing or acupuncture are contaminated) and sharing razors.

How do I know if I have it?

There are often no symptoms for Hepatitis B, which is why it is important to get checked regularly.Symptoms, if they occur, can include feeling tired, aches, nausea, vomiting, passing darker urine than usual and being jaundiced.

Hepatitis B Testing – Testing for Hepatitis

You can get a Hepatitis B test at Better2Know, either on its own or as part of our Full STD test package.A blood sample is needed to be tested for Hepatitis B.The same sample can also be used for other STD tests you may want to order including all those in our Full STD screen.Results are normally available in 2-3 working days.

How is Hepatitis B treated ?

There's an effective vaccination to protect people from Hepatitis B infection. It is available from your GP or high street travel centres, who will advise you whether you need it. Family and other household members of an infected person should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B. Healthcare workers, the police, the emergency services and anyone who is likely to come in contact with infected blood through their job should also be vaccinated.

The majority of people with Hepatitis B do not need specific treatment other than rest, and they eventually make a full recovery. However, it is important that the infection is monitored to check whether chronic disease develops, and the person is given advice about the risk of passing the infection on. If the infection lasts more than six months (chronic Hepatitis infection, where the virus continues to actively reproduce in the body) you may need more specific drug treatment to reduce the risk of permanent liver damage (cirrhosis) and liver cancer. Your GP should refer you to a specialist in either liver disease (a hepatologist) or general digestive diseases (a gastroenterologist). They may recommend treatment either with treatment called interferon, or with antiviral drugs. Interferon is given as regular injections and helps boost the immune system to fight the infection. The response to interferon is variable, and some people who initially get better get worse again when the treatment is stopped. Others find that the side effects of interferon mean that they cannot continue with treatment. Several different antiviral drugs, known as nucleoside analogues, are also now used to treat chronic Hepatitis. They are not a cure, but they do suppress the virus. These drugs may also have side effects - although not usually so severe as with interferon - and the virus may become resistant to them.

Adverse Consequences

If left undetected and untreated, Hepatitis B can mean that you are more at risk of contracting HIV and other STDs through unprotected intercourse.  It can also cause chronic inflammation of the liver and may lead to live cancer.  If you are pregnant, the risk of transmission to your baby can be minimised by you midwife who will be able to advise you.

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