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What is Hepatitis B?

"Hepatitis" refers to both an inflammation of the liver, which can be caused by alcohol or other toxins, and an infection of the liver by any of several viruses. Hepatitis B is a disease caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus (there are more than 7 other hepatitis viruses). Hepatitis B is responsible for about half of the hepatitis cases caused by viral infection.

  1. Significance

    • Since many people do not show symptoms of hepatitis infection, you can be infected and not know it. You can be infected for many years and not show any symptoms. This means that you also risk spreading the infection to others. In addition, chronic hepatitis B infection can lead to serious liver damage, including development of cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer. Almost 15 to 25 percent of those with chronic hepatitis B infection will develop some form of liver disease.

    Types

    • Acute hepatitis B usually occurs within the first 6 months of being infected. Symptoms include fatigue, headache, joint and muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, pain in your right upper abdomen below your ribs, dark urine, gray-colored stool and yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice). Acute infection can be fought off by your body's immune system and may not progress beyond these initial symptoms.
      Chronic hepatitis B is a life-long infection that your body is unable to fight. Chronic infection can cause scarring of the liver and impaired liver function, or liver cancer. There is no treatment for chronic hepatitis B infection, and those who live with chronic infection must take steps to protect those around them from being infected.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Hepatitis B is spread through blood and other body fluids like semen and saliva. About 65 percent of hepatitis B infection results from sexual transmission. You can help protect yourself from infection by abstaining from sex, having sex with only one partner whom you know is not infected, or using a condom. Do not share needles or drug-injection equipment. Talk to your doctor about giving you a hepatitis B vaccine, which is the best and most effective means of protecting yourself from infection.

    Considerations

    • If you think you have been infected with hepatitis B, there is a vaccine that can help your immune system to fight the infection. This vaccine -- called hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) -- consists of antibodies to the virus, which attach to the virus and destroy it, providing protection for about 3 months. You must receive HBIG within 2 weeks of being infected. HBIG should be given with the standard hepatitis B vaccines for lifelong protection against infection.

    Warning

    • If you have chronic hepatitis B, check with your doctor before taking any new medications -- even over the counter medications like acetaminophen. Any drug or supplement that affects the liver can increase your risk of liver damage. Talk to your doctor as well before taking any herbal supplement. Herbs like Kava kava can increase the risk of liver damage if taken by those with chronic hepatitis infection.

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