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| Hepatitis B |
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Hepatitis B (HBV) is a disease that can cause inflammation of the liver. HBV can be found in blood, semen (cum), vaginal fluids, breast milk, and saliva (spit). HBV is transmitted through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex, by sharing needles and other injection equipment (such as cottons and cookers, and by sharing snorting or smoking devices (such as straws and crack pipes) with a person infected with the virus. Hepatitis B can also be transmitted from mother-to-child during pregnancy, delivery, or while breastfeeding. In rare instances, HBV has been transmitted through ordinary household contact, sharing toothbrushes and razors. Hepatitis B is diagnosed by an antibody blood test. As much as 90 percent of people infected with HBV will clear the virus within 6 months. The remaining ten percent will carry the virus for life. Currently there is no affective pharmacological treatment for acute HBV infection - treatment is mainly aimed at alleviating symptoms.
Treatment for chronic infection often works best for people with low levels of hepatitis B virus in the blood and high liver enzymes (ALTs). There are three possible treatments for chronic hepatitis B: interferon, Epivir -HBV (3TC), and Hepsera (adefovir dipivoxil). Symptoms of acute infection may progress gradually, usually lasting a month or two, and may include; flu-like symptoms such as, chills, fever, fatigue, aching joints and muscles, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. Sometimes people do not have any signs or symptoms of the infection, and therefore may not know they have contracted the virus.
Hepatitis B can be prevented by getting vaccinated. HBV vaccination is given as a series of three shots over the course of 6 months and is strongly recommended for people with HIV and HCV.
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Hepatitis B