Did you know that...?
- There are three types of Hepatitis: A, B and C.
- All three are transmitted in different ways and have different levels of seriousness.
Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis B is a serious infectious disease.
- It is caused by the hepatitis B virus.
- This virus penetrates the liver cells where it causes an inflammation. Depending on the seriousness of the infection, symptoms may range from none, severe to mild.
- Hepatitis B can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, blood transfusions with infected blood, tattoos, sharing drug needles, and even from breastfeeding a child.
- It is generally seen as an STI (sexually transmitted infection) as that is the most common way to get it.
What will someone notice? - Symptoms can appear two to six months after the infection.
- Only one in three people with hepatitis B exhibits any symptoms.
- A person may be fatigued, listless or run a fever.
- Usually the disease passes with rest and the virus disappears.
- In 5 to 10% of the cases a person is a carrier. A carrier harbours the virus in the body and is therefore contagious.
- A small proportion of carriers have a permanently inflamed liver, which can have serious consequences.
Treatment
- Nowadays it is possible to treat chronic hepatitis B.
- There is also a vaccination that immunizes against hepatitis B.
- If you or your partner is infected with hepatitis B it might be wise to have this injection.
- Ask your doctor for more information.
NB:
*Hepatitis is sometimes referred to as jaundice: But jaundice is a symptom of an inflamed liver. It also occurs in inflammations of the liver that are not caused by Hepatitis B. *There are two other types of Hepatitis: Hepatitis A and Hepatitis C. Hepatitis A - Is the least severe of the three.
- It is transmitted from the feaces of an infected person.
- The most common ways to become infected is consuming contaminated food or water.
- Due to those facts, it is found much more in third world countries.
Hepatitis C - Hepatitis C can only be transmitted though blood.
- This is the only way it can be transmitted.
Do you have any symptoms? Or do you think you might have been exposed to unsafe sex? It is important to have yourself tested as soon as possible. For assistance, you can go to: your general practitioner (GP, huisarts in Dutch), the GGD or the AIDS STI Help Line (0900 20420440 (10 ct/min); Monday 10:00-22:00. Tuesday-Friday 14:00-22:00. Mail: infolijn@soaaids.nl) |
