Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus found in blood and body fluids including vaginal secretions, semen, breast milk and the saliva of infected individuals.

It is a vaccine-preventable infection that affects the liver. Most infected people (90%) naturally produce antibodies to fight the disease, but some develop chronic hepatitis B and carry the virus all of their lives and remain infectious. Hepatitis B is most common in developing countries.

What you should know

Risks for transmission

Hepatitis B may be transmitted by having oral, vaginal or anal sex with an infected partner
Through exposure to infected blood or blood products, or shared needles

Highest risk groups include injection drug users, people with many sexual partners, incarcerated or institutionalized individuals, healthcare workers, people living with HIV or hepatitis C, or those infected with other STIs

Occasionally from contact with shared household items such as toothbrushes or razors
During childbirth (transmission from mother to infant)

Symptoms

In 50 to 70% of people there are no outward signs of infection

Up to eight weeks after exposure to the virus, some people experience flu-like symptoms including tiredness, nausea and vomiting, decreased appetite, a rash, joint pain, yellowing of the eyes and skin (in rare cases)

Prevention

All provinces have either an infant or school-based hepatitis B vaccination program
Infants born to affected mothers receive both hepatitis B immune globulin and the hepatitis B vaccine shortly after birth to prevent hepatitis B infection

Harm reduction strategies can be implemented, such as clean needle exchange programs
Sexual partners and those living in the same household as people with hepatitis B should be advised to be vaccinated to prevent infections

Testing

Testing is performed by blood work

sti-testing-blood

Treatment

There is no cure for hepatitis B.
If an individual has been exposed to hepatitis B, an injection of antibodies may be given (up to 7 days after a needlestick injury and up to 14 days after sexual contact), followed by the hepatitis B vaccine to help prevent infection.

Most individuals recover from hepatitis B infection fully within about six months.
Individuals who are acutely infected with hepatitis B should abstain from sexual activity until their partner(s) have been screened and immunized.

All sexual partners and people in your house need to be notified if you have a hepatitis B infection.
Individuals with acute (non-chronic) infections usually do not need antiviral medications.

Complications

Chronic hepatitis B can lead to severe liver damage including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, and a very complicated type blood vessel disease affecting the liver, stomach, intestines, and pancreas.

Individuals who develop chronic hepatitis B infection require liver function monitoring and may benefit from treatment with interferon or an anti-viral medication.