Symptoms and signs

 

Hepatitis B has an incubation period of 45 to 160 days. During the acute infection phase, most people do not experience any symptoms. Some people, however, may have illness with symptoms which include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), mild fever, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

 

 

 

Risk factors

 

The hepatitis B virus can survive outside the body for at least seven days. The virus, during this period, can be passed from person to person through body fluids, mainly in the form of blood, amniotic fluid, semen, and vaginal secretions.

 

It is estimated that globally more than 257 million people have HBV infection. Children under six years old who become infected with the hepatitis B virus are the most likely to develop chronic diseases. There are some risk factors for hepatitis B if someone is:

• on dialysis;
• sharing needles during intravenous therapy;
• living with someone who is infected with HBV;
• being a sexual partner of someone who has HBV infection; and
• Health care worker who might be in contact with blood or other body fluids.

 

Complications

 

Hepatitis B can lead to serious complications. Approximately 5-10% of adults and 95% of perinatally infected infants are unable to clear the virus, thus becoming chronic carriers. The chronic HBV infection may impair the liver’s function and develop liver cancer.

 

 

 

Prevention

 

Due to the common mode of HBV transmission is through blood and amniotic fluids, citizens should take extra precaution to the contact with blood and blood products. Moreover, the tattooing and body piercing industry are at increased risk for hepatitis B.

 

Hepatitis B vaccination is the most effective means to prevent HBV infection. About 90 to 95% of people will gain life-long immunity to hepatitis B after a full course of vaccination. All babies born in Hong Kong are vaccinated. The birth dose is administered at birth in the hospital, while the second and third doses are given in Maternal & Child Health Centres.

 

 

 

Treatment

 

Currently, there’s no specific treatment for acute Hepatitis B. If patients suffer from chronic hepatitis B, they can be treated with oral antiviral agents which can slow the cirrhosis progression, reduce the liver cancer incidence and achieve long-term survival.

 

 

 

*The above information is for reference only, please consult your doctor for detail.