HEPATITIS B
What is it?
Hepatitis B is a viral infection affecting the liver. It is common in New Zealand and infection may result in long-term health complications.
How do you get it?
You can get hepatitis B by coming in contact with body fluids from infected people, including blood, semen, vaginal fluid, urine and saliva. This means you can get hepatitis B through vaginal, anal or oral sexual contact without a condom. Hepatitis B can also be spread by sharing equipment and needles for drug use, tattooing or body piercing.
Symptoms
Of the people who come in contact with the hepatitis virus, three out of four will not feel sick. Symptoms may include nausea, loss of appetite, pain in the liver (right side), fever, painful joints or jaundice (yellow eyes and skin).
Is it serious?
Hepatitis B can be a serious disease in some people, who can develop a chronic disease which can cause scarring of the liver, liver failure or liver cancer, but most people recover completely after a few months, though some people will still become carriers of the virus.
How do you get tested?
You can have hepatitis B for up to six months before it will show up in a blood test. During this time you may or may not feel sick.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis B once you have been infected. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important including daily exercise, avoiding fatty and sugary food and drinks, and keeping alcohol intake to a minimum.
Prevention
Hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccination. Since 1987, babies born in NZ have been protected against the hepatitis B virus infection through vaccination. Hepatitis B is rare in New Zealanders aged under 25.
Telling your sexual partner/s
If you are carrying the virus you should tell your sex partner/s that you are a hepatitis B carrier.
