Things you need to know about hepatitis B

By Lim Ju-won

Hepatitis B is an infectious illness caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and leads to an inflammation of the liver. A major route of infection in Korea is perinatal infection (Hepatitis B can be passed from a mother to her baby during or shortly after delivery).

The virus spreads from person to person with the exchange of bodily fluids such as having sex, sharing needles, acupuncture and tattooing.

Hepatitis B viruses, however, doesn’t spread through casual contact, such as holding hands, sharing drinking glasses, breast-feeding, kissing, hugging, coughing, or sneezing. It does not generally spread through water and food.

The infection of the virus may either be acute or chronic. In about 5 percent of adults infected, the virus becomes hepatitis B carriers and develops into chronic hepatitis. Acute hepatitis causes liver inflammation, vomiting, jaundice. Chronic hepatitis B may eventually cause cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Acute infection with the virus begins with fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, body aches, mild fever, dark urine, and then progresses to development of jaundice (eyes or skin turning yellow).

So when people first get infected with the virus, they might feel like they have the flu. Acute infection does not usually require treatment because these symptoms usually get better in a few weeks spontaneously.

Approximately 70 percent of patients with acute hepatitis B have asymptomatic or mild hepatitis without jaundice, while 30 percent develop jaundice. A few patients may have more severe liver disease.

Chronic infection with the virus may be either asymptomatic (inactive carrier state) or may be associated with a chronic inflammation of the liver (chronic hepatitis), leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer over a period of several years. (See the picture) So Chronic carriers are encouraged to avoid consuming alcohol and should get regular screening examinations such as a liver function test, tumor marker (aFP) and ultrasonography.

Here are some tips on prevention that you may want to follow.

Using a latex condom during sex with the partners that have the disease.

Not sharing needles, razors, toothbrushes, or anything that might have suspicious blood on it.

Get vaccinated against hepatitis B if you don’t have enough antibodies against the hepatitis B virus.

The author is an Assistant Professor at Seoul National University Hospital International Healthcare Center (SNUH-IHC).