Hepatitis B is a liver disease.
Hepatitis (HEP-ah-TY-tis) makes your liver swell and stops it from working right.
You need a healthy liver. The liver does many things to keep you alive. The liver fights infections and stops bleeding. It removes drugs and other poisons from your blood. The liver also stores energy for when you need it.
What causes hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is caused by a virus.
A virus is a germ that causes sickness. (For example, the flu is caused by a virus.) People can pass viruses to each other. The virus that causes hepatitis B is called the hepatitis B virus.
How could I get hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B spreads by contact with an infected person's blood, semen, or other body fluid.
You could get hepatitis B by
having sex with an infected person without using a condom
sharing drug needles
having a tattoo or body piercing done with dirty tools that were used on someone else
getting pricked with a needle that has infected blood on it (health care workers can get hepatitis B this way)
living with someone who has hepatitis B
sharing a toothbrush or razor with an infected person
traveling to countries where hepatitis B is common
An infected woman can give hepatitis B to her baby at birth.
You can NOT get hepatitis B by
shaking hands with an infected person
hugging an infected person
sitting next to an infected person
What are the symptoms?
Hepatitis B can make you feel like you have the flu.
You might
feel tired
feel sick to your stomach
have a fever
not want to eat
have stomach pain
have diarrhea
Some people have
dark yellow urine
light-colored stools
yellowish eyes and skin
Some people don’t have any symptoms.
If you have symptoms or think you might have hepatitis B, go to a doctor.
What are the tests for hepatitis B?
To check for hepatitis B, the doctor will test your blood.
These tests show if you have hepatitis B and how serious it is.
The doctor will take some blood to check for hepatitis B.
The doctor may also do a liver biopsy.
A biopsy (BYE-op-see) is a simple test. The doctor removes a tiny piece of your liver through a needle. The doctor checks the piece of liver for signs of hepatitis B and liver damage.
How is hepatitis B treated?
Treatment for hepatitis B may involve
A drug called interferon (in-ter-FEAR-on). It is given through shots. Most people are treated for 4 months.
A drug called lamivudine (la-MIV-you-deen). You take it by mouth once a day. Treatment is usually for
Hepatitis B is treated through shots of medicine.
one year.
Hepatitis B is treated through shots of medicine.
A drug called adefovir dipivoxil (uh-DEH-foh-veer dih-pih-VOX-ill). You take it by mouth once a day. Treatment is usually for one year.
Surgery. Over time, hepatitis B may cause your liver to stop working. If that happens, you will need a new liver. The surgery is called a liver transplant. It involves taking out the old, damaged liver and putting in a new, healthy one from a donor.
How can I protect myself?
You can get the hepatitis B vaccine.
A vaccine is a drug that you take when you are healthy that keeps you from getting sick. Vaccines teach your body to attack certain viruses, like the hepatitis B virus.
The hepatitis B vaccine is given through three shots. All babies should get the vaccine. Infants get the first shot within 12 hours after birth. They get the second shot at age 1 to 2 months and the third shot between ages 6 and 18 months.
Older children and adults can get the vaccine, too. They get three shots over 6 months. Children who have not had the vaccine should get it.
You need all of the shots to be protected. If you are traveling to other countries, make sure you get all the shots before you go. If you miss a shot, call your doctor or clinic right away to set up a new appointment.
Vaccines protect you from getting hepatitis B.
You can also protect yourself and others from hepatitis B if you
People who touch blood at work should wear gloves to protect themselves from hepatitis B.
use a condom when you have sex
don’t share drug needles with anyone
wear gloves if you have to touch anyone’s blood
don’t use an infected person’s toothbrush, razor, or anything else that could have blood on it
make sure any tattooing or body piercing is done with clean tools
Hepatitis (HEP-ah-TY-tis) makes your liver swell and stops it from working right.
You need a healthy liver. The liver does many things to keep you alive. The liver fights infections and stops bleeding. It removes drugs and other poisons from your blood. The liver also stores energy for when you need it.
What causes hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is caused by a virus.
A virus is a germ that causes sickness. (For example, the flu is caused by a virus.) People can pass viruses to each other. The virus that causes hepatitis B is called the hepatitis B virus.
How could I get hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B spreads by contact with an infected person's blood, semen, or other body fluid.
You could get hepatitis B by
having sex with an infected person without using a condom
sharing drug needles
having a tattoo or body piercing done with dirty tools that were used on someone else
getting pricked with a needle that has infected blood on it (health care workers can get hepatitis B this way)
living with someone who has hepatitis B
sharing a toothbrush or razor with an infected person
traveling to countries where hepatitis B is common
An infected woman can give hepatitis B to her baby at birth.
You can NOT get hepatitis B by
shaking hands with an infected person
hugging an infected person
sitting next to an infected person
What are the symptoms?
Hepatitis B can make you feel like you have the flu.
You might
feel tired
feel sick to your stomach
have a fever
not want to eat
have stomach pain
have diarrhea
Some people have
dark yellow urine
light-colored stools
yellowish eyes and skin
Some people don’t have any symptoms.
If you have symptoms or think you might have hepatitis B, go to a doctor.
What are the tests for hepatitis B?
To check for hepatitis B, the doctor will test your blood.
These tests show if you have hepatitis B and how serious it is.
The doctor will take some blood to check for hepatitis B.
The doctor may also do a liver biopsy.
A biopsy (BYE-op-see) is a simple test. The doctor removes a tiny piece of your liver through a needle. The doctor checks the piece of liver for signs of hepatitis B and liver damage.
How is hepatitis B treated?
Treatment for hepatitis B may involve
A drug called interferon (in-ter-FEAR-on). It is given through shots. Most people are treated for 4 months.
A drug called lamivudine (la-MIV-you-deen). You take it by mouth once a day. Treatment is usually for
Hepatitis B is treated through shots of medicine.
one year.
Hepatitis B is treated through shots of medicine.
A drug called adefovir dipivoxil (uh-DEH-foh-veer dih-pih-VOX-ill). You take it by mouth once a day. Treatment is usually for one year.
Surgery. Over time, hepatitis B may cause your liver to stop working. If that happens, you will need a new liver. The surgery is called a liver transplant. It involves taking out the old, damaged liver and putting in a new, healthy one from a donor.
How can I protect myself?
You can get the hepatitis B vaccine.
A vaccine is a drug that you take when you are healthy that keeps you from getting sick. Vaccines teach your body to attack certain viruses, like the hepatitis B virus.
The hepatitis B vaccine is given through three shots. All babies should get the vaccine. Infants get the first shot within 12 hours after birth. They get the second shot at age 1 to 2 months and the third shot between ages 6 and 18 months.
Older children and adults can get the vaccine, too. They get three shots over 6 months. Children who have not had the vaccine should get it.
You need all of the shots to be protected. If you are traveling to other countries, make sure you get all the shots before you go. If you miss a shot, call your doctor or clinic right away to set up a new appointment.
Vaccines protect you from getting hepatitis B.
You can also protect yourself and others from hepatitis B if you
People who touch blood at work should wear gloves to protect themselves from hepatitis B.
use a condom when you have sex
don’t share drug needles with anyone
wear gloves if you have to touch anyone’s blood
don’t use an infected person’s toothbrush, razor, or anything else that could have blood on it
make sure any tattooing or body piercing is done with clean tools
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