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Hepatitis B Facts
What is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver.
Some people who get hepatitis never feel sick.
Others develop flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue
and nausea. Some become very ill with fever, abdominal
pain, dark urine; clay coloured stools and jaundices
(yellowish colour of the skin and eyes). Less
than 1% become severely ill and die. There is
no antibiotic treatment for this infection. Most
people recover completely and are protected from
future infections of Hepatitis B.
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Who is a Hepatitis B Carrier?
About 6 - 10% who develop hepatitis will become
chronic carriers. Carriers are people who, although
they may not be ill, continue to carry all or
part of the Hepatitis B virus in their blood and
body fluids, remaining infectious for the rest
of their lives. Carriers look healthy, although
some may develop liver cirrhosis (scarring) or
liver cancer years later.
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How is Hepatitis B Virus Spread?
Hepatitis B is spread through contact with blood
and body fluids (semen, vaginal fluids, saliva)
of an infected person. The infectious blood or
body fluids containing the virus must enter a
break in the skin or be absorbed through a mucous
membrane (e.g. eyes, mouth). The virus is not
spread by sneezing, coughing, hugging or kissing.
Hepatitis B can be spread through a bite when
infected blood or saliva enters the other person's
blood stream through the wound.
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How to prevent Hepatitis B
- Get immunized. Peel Health Department provides
free vaccine for household and sexual contacts,
babies of chronic carriers and grade 7 students
through the school immunization program.
- Hepatitis B vaccine is also available through
your family doctor. The series requires 3 injections,
which cost approximately $100.00.
- Practice safer sex. Use condoms, especially
if you have many partners.
- Don't share toothbrushes, razors, nail files
or other personal items that may have tiny amounts
of blood on them; e.g. I.V. drug equipment,
tattooing devices or ear piercing needles.
- Use routine practices in any first-aid
situation where there is blood involved.
- Wear latex gloves througout the procedure,
to protect yourself.
- Clean up spills of blood with soap and water,
then wipe the surface with bleach solution (1/4
cup bleach to 2 1/4 cups of water). Let dry.
The bleach will kill any virus left on the surface
area.
- Put blood soiled material in a sealed bag
first before disposing in the garbage.
- Remove gloves, wash hands.
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