If you have chronic hepatitis B virus infection (HBV), you are not alone. Today,
approximately 1.25 million people in the United States are chronically infected
with HBV. The majority of infected people feel healthy for their entire lives and do not
demonstrate any evidence of ongoing liver damage. Other people progress to levels
of more severe disease. Some people
ultimately develop liver scarring (cirrhosis),
liver failure, or liver cancer. It is important that you take care of yourself. And
because it is possible to spread HBV to others,
you have to know how to protect your family, friends, and others from this disease.
How you can take care
of yourself
People who have chronic HBV infection need regular monitoring of their liver
condition to determine whether their disease is progressing, whether treatment is
needed, or whether a liver cancer is developing. Make sure you do the following:
- See your doctor for evaluation of
your liver's condition once or twice a year. Certain blood tests need to be performed periodically to monitor your liver's health. Discuss with your doctor if
you are a candidate for the medications interferon alfa-2b, lamivudine,
or adefovir dipivoxil. These medicines are given to certain people with chronic
liver disease.
- Discuss with your doctor about
getting periodic ultrasounds, alpha-fetoprotein blood tests, or other studies to make sure there is no evidence of a developing liver cancer. Physicians may
recommend different schedules for ultrasounds and blood tests depending on the
patient's age, sex, ethnicity, age at which the infection was initially acquired,
family history, HBeAg status, and liver enzymes. Usually, ultrasounds and
blood tests are recommended every six
to 12 months.
- Review with your physician all
medications you take. Even some
"over-the-counter" medications can injure
your liver.
- If you are pregnant, tell your physician that you have chronic HBV infection.
It is essential that your baby be given hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG)
and started on hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours of birth.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages. Alcohol can
damage your liver.
If your liver disease has progressed...
If your liver disease progresses, here are some extra precautions you should take:
- Get your yearly influenza vaccine.
Patients with severe liver disease
should also receive pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.
- Get vaccinated against hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A can further damage your liver.
- Don't eat raw oysters. Raw oysters may carry the
bacteria Vibrio vulnificus which can cause a serious blood infection
in individuals with liver disease. Approximately 40% of these cases are fatal.
How to protect others from HBV infection
People can get HBV infection from you by coming in contact with your blood,
serum, semen, or vaginal fluids. HBV has also been transmitted by human bites.
Although HBV has been detected in low concentrations in other body fluids,
including tears, sweat, urine, feces, and breast milk, these fluids have not been
associated with transmission. Fortunately, HBV is
not spread by sneezing or coughing, or from casual contact such as
holding hands. Here are some important guidelines for you to follow so that others are
protected:
- Tell your sex partner(s) that you are
infected with HBV. Your sex partner(s) must see a physician for hepatitis
B blood testing. If, according to the blood tests, your partner has never had
hepatitis B, he or she should be vaccinated.
After the series of three shots is completed, your partner needs to return to the
doctor for blood testing to make sure the
vaccine protected him or her. Use condoms until your partner is proven
to be protected from HBV.
- Make sure all household members
see their physicians for hepatitis B testing and vaccination.
- Tell your health care providers that you are infected with HBV.
- Cover all cuts and open sores with a
bandage.
- Throw away used personal items such as
tissues or menstrual pads in a bag so others will not be exposed to
your blood.
- Wash your hands well after touching
your blood or body fluids.
- Clean up your blood spills. Then reclean the area with bleach solution (one
part regular household bleach to 10 parts
water).
- Do not share toothbrushes, razors, needles for ear piercing, nail files,
clippers, nail scissors, washcloths, or anything that may have come in
contact with your blood or body fluids.
- Do not share food that has been in your
mouth (e.g., chewing gum) and do not pre-chew food for babies.
- Do not share syringes and needles.
- Do not donate blood, plasma, body
organs, tissue, or sperm.
- Know that if someone is exposed to your bloodbe it a family member, a
friend, or even a strangerpreventive treatment is available for that person. If the
exposed person receives HBIG and starts the hepatitis B vaccine series within
a few days, that person has an excellent chance of being protected from HBV!
- Learn more about hepatitis B so you can
make the best decisions for yourself and provide the best protection for
your family and friends.
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