WITHOUT the WHITECOAT
The stinging Bee... hepatitis B
That's the face that we all see when a hepatitis profile revealed that our patients have hepatitis B. The next question that comes out from our patient's head is I don't have the signs and symptoms of having hepatitis, thus no changes can be seen in my body. In this point some of our patient may feel disappointed or worse would feel depressed. Eventually in the patient's mind comes this question "will I die from this disease?".
Having the knowledge of hepatitis B and its effect will tend to make the world a lighter load to carry. Hepatitis B (in the layman's lingo) is a "germ" (a virus) that gets into the body and attacks the liver. It is passed from individuals that have contact with blood and other body fluids from someone who has the virus (HBV- Hepatitis B Virus). The dreaded question, "Will I die from Hepatitis B?", most people do not die from it, there are cases where hepatitis B can cause liver damage like cirrhosis that do not go away. This is a type of hepatitis that can cause cancer which may lead to death, thus good medical care can make your risk lesser on this disease entity.
How do we get hepatitis B?, Having unprotected (using no condoms) sexual contact or intercourse with someone that have the hepatitis B virus. Pregnant mothers who have the hepatitis B virus can transmit the disease entity to the fetus or to the infant. The sharing of needles and syringes among intravenous drug abuser and users. (In the hospital setting those having needle pricks or accidental puncture from dirty needles from patients with hepatic B virus, those affected are medical technologist and phlebotomist and other hospital workers that are high risk and exposed to blood and other infected body fluids from patients affected with the hepatitis virus). A person can pass the hepatitis virus to others if he have just got the virus (acute hepatitis) or just be a carrier of the virus (chronic hepatitis).
Having the disease is already depressing then comes questions like how to get rid of the virus. It takes at least 2 (two) months to show up in the blood, in which it could stay in the blood for days, months and years. For those with acute hepatitis B virus 9 (nine) out of 10 (ten) adults will get rid of the virus from their bodies after a few months. (This is a form of an acute hepatitis B). In 10 (ten) adults, 1 (one) of those afflicted will never get rid of the virus in their bodies, thus they will become carriers. (This is a form of chronic hepatitis B). Treatment of chronic hepatitis B are thus explained better by your friendly and accommodating physician may he be an internist or a family physician. (gastroenterology is the specialty that deals with this).
Those who are afflicted with the hepatitis B virus will remain carriers of the virus if they do not get treated. The best thing that carriers can do is to make sure that their babies get all of their hepatitis B shots, and making sure that they do not spread it to others, and lastly they should get good health care from doctors and physicians. For most mothers the hepatitis B virus is transmitted to the unborn child thru the blood that gets inside the unborn child. I would like to reiterate the importance of having "immunizations" in the early childhood years... and yes this is the preventive period or stage of having the hepatitis B virus. Most babies do not die from the hepatitis B virus. Nine (9) out of the ten (10) babies that are born to infected mothers will end up being "hepatitis B carriers" for the rest of their lives, if they don't get their shots. (hepatitis B vaccine and H-BIG). If all parents will have their babies get all three shots, plus a shot called H-BIG, it will guarantee them a chance of 95% of being safe from hepatitis B for life. Baby shots for hepatitis B, at birth a hepatitis B vaccine plus a H-BIG injection, at 1 to 2 months old , a hepatitis B vaccine is given, and at 6 (six) month old a shot of hepatitis B vaccine is given. The shots that are given to the baby will help the baby make antibodies, which will protect them from the hepatitis B virus, thus when they become adults it helps them fight off the virus. After the babies have all the 3 (three) scheduled shots the physician and doctor will do a simple blood test that will show if the baby is making the antibodies. (Ask your doctors about the blood test).
As parents we should remember that all hepatitis B shots are safe for your baby, and they do not affect the way your baby grows. Just remember that if your baby gets the virus instead of the shots their is a big chance that the baby is likely to have bad liver damage later in life. Basing on statistics, up to 9 out of 10 babies born to infected mothers will end up being carriers for the rest of their lives, if they do not get the shots, babies who end up as carriers have a 1 out of 4 chance of dying from liver problems, and lastly 19 out of 20 babies who get the shots will be protected for life. For adults who are high risk like doctors and health care workers they should also get their shots for protection. Hepatitis B can be prevented if you never had hepatitis B, you can get the 3 shots and get long lasting protection.