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Health Topics: Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B virus (or HBV) is a serious virus that causes inflammation of the liver. You can be infected with hepatitis B directly, through infected blood or body fluids, or indirectly, by coming into contact with surfaces or objects contaminated with the hepatitis B virus.
Some common ways of getting hepatitis B include contact with infected blood or body fluids through:
- Sexual contact
- Repeatedly sharing an infected person's toothbrush, razor or earrings
- Eye, nose or mouth
- Needle sticks
- Cuts and scrapes during contact sports
- Potentially by piercing or tattooing
Hepatitis B is not transmitted by airborne routes, contaminated water or food.
Symptoms of hepatitis B include:
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Upper right abdominal pain
- Fever
- Headache
- Brownish urine
- Light gray stools
- Jaundice
When symptoms occur, they may appear one to six months after exposure to the virus. An infected person can begin infecting others four to six weeks before symptoms appear and can continue affecting others long after symptoms subside. The after-effects of hepatitis B can last for quite a while, and you could feel lousy for weeks or months. Serious long term consequences of hepatitis B include the risk of chronic infection, 10% of people who get hepatitis B become chronic carriers. This means they are infectious for life and run a risk of developing serious long-term liver diseases such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.
How can you prevent HBV?
The best method of preventing HBV is immunization with the inactive virus. Since there is no cure, the vaccine is strongly recommended for people at risk. College students have been identified as a group at increased risk for hepatitis infection. The HBV immunization consists of three injections over a six month period. This immunization is available through the Student Health Service. Please call 593-4747 for additional information.
Other important ways to prevent infection:
- Don't have unprotected intercourse, especially with people who have multiple sex partners.
- Use latex condoms or a dental dam throughout intercourse with every sexual partner.
- Avoid high risk sexual practices: those that could cause cuts or tears in the vagina, rectum or penis. These activities expose the bloodstream to possible infected body fluids.
- Avoid sharing needles for intravenous use (i.e. drugs, steroids.)
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