Hepatitis B

Alternative names:

acute hepatitis B

Prevention:

Hepatitis B is a public health problem because of the acute illness, the long term disability, and increased rate of liver cancer resulting from chronic infection. Mandatory reporting of this disease allows state health care workers to track people who have been exposed and to immunize contacts who have not yet developed the disease.

Screening of all donated blood has reduced the likelihood of developing hepatitis B following a blood transfusion. Donors are now required to fill out a questionnaire about their sexual and drug use activities (this is also for protection against AIDS transmission) which acts as an initial screen. After the blood is collected, several serologic tests are done on the blood to insure that hepatitis B will not be passed to the recipient of the transfusion.

The hepatitis B immunization (vaccine) is available for people in high risk groups. Early hepatitis B vaccine was made from human blood products and was not received well by the public. The new hepatitis B vaccines are entirely artificial with NO human products and have NO chance of transmitting either hepatitis B or the AIDS virus. They are both safe and effective.

Although a vaccine is available, many high-risk groups have not taken advantage of this availability. IV drug users and individuals practicing high risk sexual behavior often are either unaware of the dangers of their practices, unaware of the benefits of immunization, or unwilling to be immunized for whatever reason.

As a routine safety precaution, you should avoid contact with human blood if the carrier state of the individual is unknown (this also applies to safety concerning AIDS). Sexual contact with a person infected with hepatitis B should be avoided unless you have been immunized or have previously had hepatitis B. Always practice safer sex behaviors.

Condoms can reduce or eliminate the spread of hepatitis B when used consistently and properly. If you are unimmunized and unsure of the status of a potential sexual partner, a condom should always be worn.

Infants born of mothers who are hepatitis B positive receive a special immunization series to prevent them from becoming infected. This includes hepatitis B immune globulin, a hepatitis immunization immediately after birth, and a repeat hepatitis immunization several weeks later.