Hepatitis B (Hep B)
What is hepatitis B and how serious can it be? Several kinds of hepatitis virus can infect the liver. This article is about hepatitis B (Hep B).
Hepatitis B is a worldwide health problem with 350 million people thought to be infected. In high-risk countries, 8% or more of the population can be infected. High risk areas include sub-Saharan Africa, most of Asia and parts of the Amazon region, but care is advised in all countries. People often understand that having unprotected sex with an infected person, or sharing drug injecting equipment can put them at risk of getting hepatitis B. However travellers should be aware that anything that puts them in contact with the blood, or other body fluids, of an infected person is a risk including:
- Having a tattoo, body-piercing or acupuncture with reused or unclean equipment
- Sharing a razor or toothbrush
- Playing a contact sport if there is an injury
- Helping someone who is injured
- Having medical or dental treatment in countries where equipment is not sterilised properly
- Having a blood transfusion in some countries
The hepatitis B virus is able to survive outside the body for at least a week and is 100 times more infectious than HIV. Travellers should take care to avoid high-risk activities and consider vaccination if they may be at risk.
Hepatitis B symptoms?
Hepatitis B can take several months to develop. Generally symptoms appear very gradually. Infected people may feel like they have got fl u, but others, especially children may have no symptoms at all.
Symptoms can include:
- Weight loss
- Feeling sick
- An ache in the right upper abdomen
- Feeling very tired
- Jaundice can develop, making the skin and eye whites appear yellow.
Jaundice is a symptom of liver problems and it is accompanied by darkening of a person’s urine and lightening of their faeces in hepatitis B infection. Not everybody develops symptoms of hepatitis B infection. Sometimes it is only detected through blood tests. Some people don’t clear the infection from their blood. This is called chronic hepatitis B and can lead to progressive liver disease, liver scarring (cirrhosis) or liver cancer.
What to do if you are worried that you’ve got hepatitis B
You should seek medical attention if you notice any of the signs and symptoms of hepatitis B or you think your activities may have put you at risk. If a travel nurse has told you that hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for you, there is no doubt that your travel plans put you at risk from hepatitis B. If they say you should consider a hepatitis B vaccine you need to weigh-up the risk and cost of the vaccine against the potential risk of hepatitis B. Many people prefer to take no chances with their health.
Travel health nurse advice is based on:
- Up-to-date information on whether hepatitis B is a problem in the place you are travelling to
- Your chance of coming into contact with hepatitis B
- The medical facilities available if you were to become infected
- The duration of your stay
Ideally, arrange your Hep B vaccinations at least two months before you travel. Hepatitis B vaccination can be given alone or combined with hepatitis A. Different vaccines have different dosing schedules, but they generally involve three doses before you travel. Different hep B vaccines are available for adults and children. A travel health nurse expert will be able to tell you which version of the hepatitis B vaccine is suitable for you. Depending on which vaccination schedule is used, booster doses may be recommended at one year and five years for long-term hepatitis B immunity.
Hepatitis B protection: summary of action to be taken
- Ideally, get vaccinated at least two months before you travel
- Take a sterile needle pack if you are going to an area where healthcare may be basic
- Use a condom and practice safe sex