Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a more serious viral infection that can cause long term illness and permanent damage to the liver if not treated. More than 350 million people in the world are infected. Hepatitis B is spread through bodily fluids and blood. It can be spread via unprotected sex, sharing contaminated needles, non-sterilized equipment, mother to a baby during childbirth and blood transfusion.
Symptoms
The incubation period is about 40-160 days.
Up to half of adults have no symptoms.
Initial symptoms, if you develop them, are similar to hepatitis A, but could be more severe or prolonged:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
Once the infection becomes chronic there are few symptoms but patients could feel fatigued with loss of appetite.
After many years of infection there can be symptoms and signs such as:
- Spider neavi
- Clubbing of the fingers
- Jaundice
- Enlarged liver
Diagnosis
Hepatitis B is diagnosed with a blood test. We can check from 28 days post contact but recommend follow up testing at three months. We recommend routine sexual health screening for Hepatitis B as there are often no symptoms.
Treatment
As this will depend on your particular circumstances we would refer you to a specialist for further assessment and treatment.
Prevention
There is a Hepatitis B vaccine that will protect you against getting infected with the virus and is recommended for men who have sex with men, sex workers and IV drug users and healthcare workers as well as travellers to certain countries:
- Use condoms (a precaution suitable for prevention of a range of sexual health problems)
- Never share needles
- Do not share toothbrushes or razors
Complications
A percentage of people will clear the infection themselves, whilst others will become carriers, remain infectious or get complications like liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and even liver failure or liver cancer, later in life.