Hepatitis B
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hepatitis B is a preventable liver disease caused by Hepatitis
B virus (HBV), which can enter the blood stream through mucous membranes
or breaks in the skin. Although
it infects people of all ages, it is one of the fastest-spreading sexually
transmitted infections.
In the United States, nearly half of all cases are contracted
through heterosexual intercourse, but Rutgers students also need to be
aware of the risks associated with tattoos and body piercing.
While most parlors will use new, sterile needles, there is no state
agency that assures this. If
you do go for a tattoo/piercing, make sure you go to a reputable location
and actually watch them remove the needle from a new package.
Donating blood, or having blood tests taken at a health
facility carries no risk. The
Hepatitis B virus is much easier to transmit than HIV, with the risk of
infection following exposure approximately 10 times that of HIV.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that
approximately 14% of people between the ages of 18 - 25 years of age with
more than one sex partner are infected with HBV.
About 300,000 new cases appear each year, despite an effective
vaccine being available. Almost
5000 people die from Hepatitis B-related deaths in the U.S. due to liver
failure or liver cancer.
What are the symptoms?
Not everyone who is infected develops symptoms.
In fact, HBV may not cause any symptoms in about half of all cases, or very
mild, flu-like symptoms, this may include nausea, fatigue, mild fever and loss of
appetite around 1-6 months following exposure.
However, these infected individuals can pass the disease on to
others. One-third of the chronic HBV carriers in the U.S. does not know
how they became infected. After
several days or weeks following infection, dark urine or jaundice may
appear. The infected
individual may also feel extremely fatigued and weak.
In some instances, Hepatitis B can be fatal within the first few
weeks. Ten percent of people
who get Hepatitis B are infected for life. Infected individuals run a high risk of
developing serious, long-term liver diseases -- such as cirrhosis of the
liver or liver cancer -- that can cause serious complications or death.
An infected person can begin infecting others four to six weeks
before symptoms appear, and can continue infecting others long after
symptoms subside. This is
known as the carrier state.
How is Hepatitis B transmitted?
The virus is present in blood, semen, and other body
fluids. Transmission usually
occurs during blood-blood or semen-blood contact, sexually or by sharing
contaminated razors, toothbrushes, or
needles. Infected women may
transfer the disease during pregnancy or childbirth through placenta or
birth canal. Individuals at greatest risk are those who:
- Share
needles for injecting drugs (including steroids), tattoos, acupuncture or
ear piercing, or may have received injections (e.g. immunizations,
antibiotics) in some foreign countries not practicing sterile techniques.
- Engage in
unprotected intercourse (anal, vaginal or oral).
- Work
closely and frequently with the blood, semen, vaginal secretions or saliva
of infected patients (e.g., health care workers).
How is Hepatitis B not transmitted?
Casual contact, airborne routes, contaminated food
or water do not transmit HBV. The risk increases
only when there is direct contact with body fluids.
You cannot get from donating/giving blood.
How can you prevent HBV?
Like with almost all diseases, the best method is to avoid
exposure (i.e. those who do not engage in sexual intercourse nor shoot
drugs have little risk). The
vaccine is an important means of protection, but does not replace taking
steps to avoid the virus. If unvaccinated individuals are exposed to
Hepatitis B they may also receive another drug (gamma globulin) that can
lessen the likelihood of illness. The
vaccine is strongly recommended for everyone.
Since this is a disease that may infect anyone, especially sexually
active adults, the Hepatitis B vaccine should be considered by all
students who have not yet been immunized.
In particular, at increased risk are all men who have sex with
men, those who wish to work in health care, injection drug users, sexual
contacts of those who carry Hepatitis B, and those with multiple sexual
partners or a history of any sexually transmitted infection.
The HBV vaccine consists of three injections over a
six-month period, it provides 95% immunity.
Some other ways to prevent infection:
- Avoid having unprotected intercourse, especially with
people who have multiple partners. Safer
sexual practices include the use of a latex condom or dental dam
throughout intercourse with every sexual partner.
- Avoid
high-risk sexual practices, i.e. those that cause cuts or tears in the
vagina, rectum or penis.
These activities expose the bloodstream to possibly
infected body fluids.
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND RUTGERS
STUDENTS BE VACCINATED AGAINST HEPATITIS B.
Hepatitis A and C
Other viruses may cause hepatitis, most frequently
Hepatitis A or C. Whereas
Hepatitis A is contracted through contaminated food, water, or body
fluids, Hepatitis C is most often transmitted through the blood.
A vaccine exists to prevent Hepatitis A, but not Hepatitis C, which
must be prevented by the same precautions as recommended for Hepatitis B.
Unlike Hepatitis B or C, however, Hepatitis A does not cause any
chronic or long-term problems. No vaccine as yet exists to prevent Hepatitis C. There is a
blood test to detect Hepatitis A and C, also.
Individuals at greatest risk for Hepatitis A who should
consider getting the vaccine include:
- Travelers
to high or intermediate risk countries
- People who
have anal sex
- People who
inject drugs with contaminated needles
- Persons
with chronic liver disease (e.g., Hepatitis B or C)
- Persons
with occupational risk
The Hepatitis B vaccine is available at Rutgers University Student Health Centers.
For more information, contact:
Hurtado Health Center
(732) 932-7402
Willets Health Center
(732) 932-9805
Busch/Livingston Health Center
(732) 445-3250