What is hepatitis B?
Q: What is hepatitis B?
A: Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver caused by a virus.
Q: How is hepatitis B spread?
A: Hepatitis B can be spread through blood or body fluids, from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth, through sexual contact, reuse of needles, and transfusions of blood with the virus in it.
Q: How can hepatitis B be prevented?
A: Hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccination, where an injection is given which makes the body immune to the virus. It is recommended that all people are given a series of three vaccines over a few months when they are babies to ensure good protection against this virus. However, vaccination only provides 90% protection; it does not completely remove the risk of infection.
Q: What are some symptoms associated with hepatitis B?
A: Common symptoms associated with hepatitis B include jaundice (where the person's skin and eyes turn yellow due to a build-up of body products which would normally be filtered by the liver) and liver failure. It can also cause cancer of the liver.
Q: Can people who have been infected with hepatitis B beat it quickly?
A: Some people who are infected are able to beat the virus quickly while many others remain infected for life.
Q: Is there treatment available for those who have been infected with hepatitis B?
A: Yes, if signs that indicate damage to the liver are found through blood tests then treatment for hepatitis B can prevent further damage caused by the virus. Antiviral medications are given which prevent the virus from making copies of itself but once it has entered into the liver it cannot be completely removed from there.
