HEPATITIS B

What is it?

Hepatitis B is a type of infection of the liver caused by a virus.

What causes it?

You can catch hepatitis B from close personal contact. This means more than simply sharing cups and cutlery. It usually means by having sex. You can also catch it from unsterilised needles, which may include those used in tattoo parlours. All blood used for blood transfusion in the UK is now checked to make sure there is no risk of hepatitis B, but this is not the case in some parts of the world. Mothers can pass hepatitis B on to their babies.

Who gets it?

You are much more likely to catch hepatitis B if you inject drugs or have unprotected sex - especially anal sex. You may also be at risk if you have injections or blood transfusions abroad, especially in the Third World.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of hepatitis B usually come on about three months after the virus has got into your blood. You will often start with headaches, tiredness, sickness and diarrhoea. Sometimes you will get pain in the top of the stomach and you may have rashes or aching in the joints. A few days later, just as you are starting to feel better, you will usually get dark urine and the whites of your eyes and then your skin will turn rather yellow. This will disappear on its own after one to four weeks.

When should I go to my GP?

You will find that lots of minor illnesses cause tiredness, sickness and diarrhoea, and you should only make an appointment if these get very bad or do not settle within a couple of days. You should make an urgent appointment if you notice yellowness of the eyes or skin.

What tests will my Doctor want to do?

Your GP will certainly want to examine you and do some blood tests. He or she may send you to the hospital for a scan of your liver. If you feel very unwell, he or she may admit you to hospital.

What is the short-term treatment?

While you are feeling unwell you will need to stay in bed. When you start feeling better you should gradually start getting up and about. You will need to eat a good diet with plenty of protein. Your GP will advise you about how to cut down the risk of passing on the infection. You must not drink any alcohol at all for at least six months after having hepatitis B. You must also avoid the combined contraceptive Pill and some other medicines until your doctor says it is safe to take them.

Will I need regular check-ups?

You will need regular examinations and blood tests in the weeks after your illness as you start to feel better. You may need to have occasional blood tests in the future to check your liver has not been damaged. You have a good chance of making a complete recovery from hepatitis B, especially if you were in good health before getting the illness.

Will I need long-term treatment?

This depends on whether your liver is damaged by the infection. Fewer than one in 20 people with hepatitis B go on to have any problems in the future. If you do, you will need to be followed up as an outpatient at the hospital.

How can I stop it getting worse?

It is very important to eat well and take plenty of rest while you are feeling unwell. Perhaps the most important advice, though, is to make sure you do not drink any alcohol at all for the next six months - and then only if the doctor says you can. This is very important to stop you feeling unwell, but also to stop long-term damage to the liver.