How Long Does Hepatitis B Vaccine Last In The Body

The hepatitis B germ (virus) can crusade a short-term (astute) infection, which may or may not cause symptoms. Following an astute infection, a minority of infected adults develop a persistent infection called chronic hepatitis B. Many people with chronic hepatitis B remain well, but can still pass on the virus to others. Some develop serious liver problems. The virus is mainly passed on by sexual contact, by sharing needles to inject drugs, and from female parent to baby.

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis ways inflammation of the liver. There are many causes of hepatitis. For example, drinking also much alcohol, various drugs and chemicals and also several dissimilar germs (viruses) can cause hepatitis. Ane virus that causes hepatitis is called the hepatitis B virus. This leaflet is only well-nigh hepatitis B. See the split leaflets called Hepatitis A and Hepatitis C, which are caused by dissimilar viruses.

Hepatitis B is a virus which is carried in the bloodstream to the liver. It can so bear upon and damage your liver.

What does the liver do?

Past Tvanbr - Ties van Brussel (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons

The liver is in the upper correct part of the breadbasket (abdomen). It has many functions which include:

Storing fuel fabricated from sugars (called glycogen) for the torso. When required, glycogen is broken down into glucose which is released into the bloodstream.
Helping to process fats and proteins from digested nutrient.
Making proteins that are essential for claret to jell (clotting factors).
Processing many medicines which you may have.
Helping to remove or process alcohol, poisons and toxins from the body.
Making bile which passes from the liver to the gut downwardly the bile duct. Bile breaks down the fats in food so that they can be taken in (absorbed) from the bowel.

How common is hepatitis B?

The exact number of people infected is not known. In the UK effectually ane person in 350 is thought to have persistent (chronic) hepatitis B infection. Worldwide, information technology is much more common and hepatitis B is the most common cause of hepatitis. For instance, in parts of Asia and Africa more than i person in x has chronic hepatitis B infection.

How tin can you get hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a very infectious disease.

From mother to infant (sometimes called vertical transmission)

Worldwide, the near common way the germ (virus) is passed on is from an infected female parent to her babe. This usually occurs during childbirth. This is very common in some parts of the world where many people are infected with this virus (just is rare in the UK). All women in the UK are now tested for hepatitis B when they are pregnant.

From person to person (sometimes chosen horizontal transmission)

Blood and other bodily fluids, such as semen and vaginal secretions, contain the virus in infected people. The principal ways in which people in the Britain become infected include the post-obit:

Having unprotected sex with an infected person. Even having oral sex can transmit hepatitis B. (Annotation: many people with hepatitis B do not realise that they are infected and tin pass on the virus during sexual activity.)
From infected blood. Yous only need a tiny corporeality of infected claret to come into contact with a cutting or wound on your body to allow the virus to enter your bloodstream, multiply and cause infection. For example:
- Sharing needles and/or whatsoever injecting equipment (for example, spoons, filters, h2o for injection) to inject drugs. Even a tiny amount of blood left on a needle from an infected person is enough to cause spread to others.
- Some people who had a blood transfusion or another blood product several years ago were infected with hepatitis B. Now, all blood donated in the Great britain is checked for the hepatitis B virus (and for certain other infections). Then, the risk of getting hepatitis B from a blood transfusion in the UK is now very small.
- From 'needlestick' accidents where the needle was used on an infected person.
- There is a small risk of contracting the virus from sharing toothbrushes, razors and other such items which may be contaminated with claret. The virus can actually live outside the body for more than one week.
- From using equipment which is not sterile for dental work, medical procedures, tattooing, body piercing, etc.
- A seize with teeth from an infected person, or if their blood spills on to a wound on your skin, or on to your eyes or into your oral fissure.

The virus is not passed on during normal social contact such as holding hands, hugging, kissing or sharing cups or crockery.

What are the symptoms and how does hepatitis B progress?

Information technology is helpful to think of two phases of infection with the hepatitis B germ (virus).

A short-term (acute) phase when you are first infected
A persistent (chronic) phase when the virus remains long-term in some cases.

Astute infection

Symptoms of acute hepatitis may develop presently subsequently yous beginning go infected with the virus (within 1-6 months, which is the incubation period). Symptoms include feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), tummy (abdominal) pains, high temperature (fever) and feeling generally unwell. You lot may look xanthous (get jaundiced). This is due to a build-up of the chemical bilirubin which is made in the liver and spills into the blood in some liver weather. With jaundice due to hepatitis your urine goes dark and your stools (faeces) may go stake.

Symptoms of acute hepatitis B infection unremarkably get after a few weeks, as the immune organisation either clears the virus or brings it under control. Rarely, an astute astringent (fulminant) hepatitis develops which is life-threatening.

Nonetheless, in about half of cases, no symptoms, or simply mild flu-like symptoms, develop in the acute stage. Yous may not even be aware that you accept been infected with hepatitis B. In particular, babies who are infected from their mothers during childbirth normally have no symptoms at first.

Post-obit the initial acute phase:

In more than 9 in x cases in adults, the virus is cleared from the torso by the immune system within 3-6 months. In this situation yous are no longer infectious and yous are immune to further infection.
In up to i in 10 cases in adults, the virus remains long-term (chronic hepatitis B infection). This may occur whether or not you take symptoms in the acute phase.
In more than than 9 in 10 babies infected from their mothers, the virus remains long-term.

So, in other words, at that place is a good take chances of full recovery and clearing the virus for adults who get infected with hepatitis B. However, this is not so for newborn babies who become infected.

Chronic infection

Of those people who develop chronic hepatitis B infection:

Up to 2 in 3 people remain well. You tin can have the virus in your body but develop no impairment or problems to the liver or other organs. This is called being a carrier and is sometimes chosen chronic inactive hepatitis B. Y'all may not know that you lot are infected and are a carrier. However, even if you have no symptoms, yous can notwithstanding pass on the virus to others. About ane in five carriers somewhen clear the virus from their body naturally, but this may be afterwards several years.
Some people develop persistent liver inflammation (sometimes called chronic active hepatitis B). Symptoms include muscle aches, tiredness, feeling ill, lack of appetite, intolerance of booze, pains over the liver, jaundice and depression. Symptoms vary in severity and some people have liver inflammation without having any symptoms.
Some people develop cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is similar a scarring of the liver, which can cause serious issues and liver failure when it is severe. Cirrhosis usually takes many years to develop after a person has been infected with hepatitis B. Meet the separate leaflet chosen Cirrhosis for more details.
A small number of people who develop cirrhosis then develop liver cancer afterwards a further period of time.

How is hepatitis B diagnosed and assessed?

A simple blood exam tin can discover if you are infected with the hepatitis B germ (virus). This test detects a poly peptide on the surface of the virus called hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg). If y'all are establish to be infected (if you are HBsAg-positive) and then other tests may exist advised to check on the severity of infection, liver inflammation and damage to the liver.

For example:

A claret test tin detect various parts of the virus. This tin can assess how active the virus is (if it is multiplying rapidly which indicates that information technology is more probable to cause liver harm).
Claret tests called liver function tests. These measure the activity of chemicals (enzymes) and other substances made in the liver. This gives a general guide as to whether the liver is inflamed, and how well it is working.
An ultrasound scan of the liver.
A small sample (biopsy) of the liver may be taken to look at under the microscope. This tin show the extent of any inflammation and scarring of the liver (cirrhosis).
A claret test tin also exist performed to show if you lot accept immunity to hepatitis B.
Other tests may be done if cirrhosis or other complications develop.
There are other specialised blood tests being developed which assess the development and severity of cirrhosis.

Can hepatitis B be prevented?

Immunisation

A vaccine is available to protect against hepatitis B. This should be offered to anyone who is at increased hazard of beingness infected with the hepatitis B germ (virus). For case, sexual and household contacts of someone infected with hepatitis B. Run across the split up leaflet called Hepatitis B Immunisation for more details.

Mail service-exposure prevention

If you lot are non immunised and have been exposed to the virus, yous should meet a doctor immediately. (For example, if you are a healthcare worker and y'all accept a 'needlestick' injury.) You can be given an injection of antibodies called immunoglobulin besides every bit starting a course of immunisation. This may prevent infection from developing.

Preventing infection in newborn babies at risk

All pregnant women in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland are offered a hepatitis B blood test. If the mother is infected, her infant is given injections of antibodies and likewise immunised straight subsequently birth. (The transmission of the virus to the infant is thought to occur mainly during childbirth and non during the pregnancy.) With this handling in that location is a good chance of preventing infection developing in the baby.

If I am infected, how can I preclude passing on the virus to others?

If y'all have a current hepatitis B infection you should:

Avoid having sex with anyone (specially any sex without using a condom) until they take been fully immunised and checked with a blood exam to see that the immunisation has worked.
Not share any injecting equipment such as needles, syringes, etc.
Not donate blood or semen or carry a donor card.
Not share razors, toothbrushes, etc, that may be contaminated with blood.
Comprehend any cuts or wounds with a dressing.
Make sure that, if whatsoever of your claret spills on to the flooring or other surfaces following an accident, information technology is cleaned abroad with bleach.

What is the handling for hepatitis B?

Treatment for the short-term (astute) phase

No treatment tin can clear the germ (virus) from the body. If you develop symptoms when first infected, treatment aims to help ease symptoms until they go - for instance, drinking plenty of water to avoid lack of fluid in the torso (dehydration). Rarely, a severe hepatitis develops which may demand infirmary care. No handling can preclude acute hepatitis B from becoming persistent (chronic).

Treatment for chronic infection

Treatment for hepatitis B does not cure hepatitis B only works to delay or fifty-fifty to preclude complications from developing, like liver harm and 'scarring' of the liver (cirrhosis). People with chronic hepatitis B usually need treatment to cease or to reduce the activity of the virus, so limiting liver damage. A liver specialist volition usually advise on when treatment may exist beneficial. At that place are two types of treatment currently given:

Interferon. This medicine is similar to a substance produced in your body, which is also called interferon. It works to fight infections by boosting your immune system. Interferon is usually given as an injection each week.
Antiviral medicines. These piece of work by stopping the hepatitis B virus from multiplying in the body. They include lamivudine, adefovir, tenofovir, and entecavir. Your doc will discuss these in more detail with you, as the medicine used can vary betwixt people. A combination of antiviral medicines is sometimes used.

Treatment with medicines is unremarkably connected for many years.

Side-effects with these medicines tin occur. You will be monitored regularly while you are taking treatment, which includes blood tests. Some people need to change their medicines, or accept a lower strength, if they accept troublesome side-effects. Also, in some people, resistance can develop to their treatment medicine, which means that it does not work so well. If this happens then it is likely you volition have to change the medicine y'all take.

The treatment of hepatitis B is a developing expanse of medicine. New medicines continue to be developed and the information above is very general. At that place are some newer medicines that accept been introduced in the concluding few years that bear witness hope to better the outlook. The specialist who knows your case tin can requite more than accurate data about the outlook for your detail situation.

Liver transplant

For some people with advanced 'scarring' of the liver (cirrhosis), liver transplantation may exist an option. Although this is a major operation, the outlook following a liver transplant tin be very adept. However, the new liver may too somewhen become damaged past the persisting (chronic) hepatitis B infection.

Diet and booze

Most people with persistent (chronic) hepatitis B will exist advised to eat a normal healthy counterbalanced nutrition. Ideally, anybody with inflammation of the liver should non drink alcohol. If yous already have liver inflammation, alcohol increases the hazard and speed of developing 'scarring' of the liver (cirrhosis).

Source: https://patient.info/digestive-health/hepatitis/hepatitis-b

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