Download What is Hepatitis B and what causes it? How common is Hepatitis B

What is Hepatitis B and what causes it?
Hepatitis is a medical word for inflammation of the liver. One
type of hepatitis is caused by the Hepatitis B virus. The virus
(germ) gets into your body and infects your liver. Sometimes this
infection damages your liver and this can have long lasting
effects on your health. Some people may not realise they have
the infection, or mistake it for flu. However, other people can
feel very ill and may need to be treated in hospital.
How common is Hepatitis B?
It is estimated that 350 million people in the world carry a longterm infection from the Hepatitis B virus. It is more common in
some parts of the world, such as many African countries, SouthEast Asia, the Middle and Far East and Southern and Eastern
Europe.
Is it serious?
Yes it can be. Up to one adult in ten who catches Hepatitis B will
not be able to get rid of the virus. For very young children this
can be as many as eight out of ten. These adults and children are
known as ‘carriers’. ‘Carriers’ can look and feel healthy, but some
of them risk developing serious liver disease in the future. It is
also easy to catch Hepatitis B from them, as they may remain
infectious.
How do you catch Hepatitis B?
By having direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an
infected person. The main ways are:
z having sex without a condom with someone who has got the
Hepatitis B virus in their body
z being born to a mother who has the Hepatitis B virus in her
body
z sharing any drug injecting equipment
z receiving infected blood through a transfusion, or having
medical treatment using equipment that has not been properly
cleaned
z coming into contact with tiny droplets of blood from open
wounds, scratches or cuts from an infected person
z household contacts such as sharing toothbrushes or razors.
Although it is spread in much the same way as HIV, the Hepatitis
B virus is 100 times more infectious. This means that people living
in the same household as someone with Hepatitis B may be at
risk of catching it.
What are the symptoms?
Some people have no symptoms at all. In others the symptoms
may include:
z a short mild flu-like illness
z feeling ill and tired
z vomiting and diarrhoea
z weight loss
z itchy skin
z jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
z pale stools and dark urine.
Hepatitis B tests
If you are being tested for Hepatitis B, a sample of your blood is
taken and examined. The test will show if you:
z have Hepatitis B at the moment
z have had Hepatitis B in the past and have now completely
recovered (and will now not catch it again)
z have had it in the past and are now a 'carrier'
z have had vaccinations in the past and are now protected from
Hepatitis B.
A doctor or nurse will explain what your test results mean for
you and your family.
Why have a test?
z If you are a carrier you can take steps to avoid passing it on to
other people.
If you are pregnant and a carrier of Hepatitis B, your baby can
be protected by a vaccination soon after birth.
Knowing if you have Hepatitis B means that you can get any
treatment you need.
Is there any treatment available?
Most people recover from Hepatitis B without treatment.
However, some people will become 'carriers' of the virus. Such
people will need more treatment after they have been
diagnosed. They will be sent to see a specialist doctor to see if
treatment is needed. Although Hepatitis B cannot be cured some
treatments will help to reduce the liver damage they may suffer
in the future.
Is there a vaccine?
Yes, vaccination is the best protection against catching Hepatitis
B. Anyone who is thought to be at high risk from catching
Hepatitis B can have the vaccination. This might include husbands, wives, sexual partners and new born babies of people
who are infected with or carry the Hepatitis B virus.
The Hepatitis B vaccination consists of three injections and you
must have all three doses for long lasting protection against the
virus. You can get the vaccination at:
the Bristol Sexual Health Centre (or any other sexual health clinic)
your GP (family doctor).
Understanding
Hepatitis B
Information for people coming to
live in the UK
Where to go for help
If you think you might have Hepatitis B there are many places
you can go for help. For example, you can ask your GP, or go to the
Bristol Sexual Health Centre, Central Health Clinic,Tower Hill,
Bristol, BS2 0JD. Telephone: 0117 342 6900 for an appointment.
Produced by The Haven Health Assessment Service for
asylum seekers and refugees in Bristol.
October 2008
English