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Hepatitis B Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, March 2009.

Answers to questions about hepatitis B

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.

 

I have tested positively for hepatitis B. What does that really mean?

There are various blood tests that can be done to check for hepatitis B. Different tests indicate if you have an active infection, if you're immune to further infection, and whether you might pass the disease on to others. If you test positive for hepatitis B, your GP will want to carry out further tests to see if the virus is affecting or damaging your liver.

Explanation

Hepatitis B infection is detected by the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test, which is a blood test that looks for the presence of the virus in the bloodstream.

A positive test result means that you have hepatitis B, but further tests will be needed to find out if you have been recently infected (acute hepatitis B) or if you're a chronic carrier of hepatitis B.

Additional tests are required to find out how active the virus is and how infectious you are. For example, it's possible to do a test that counts how many viruses are present in each millilitre of your blood (the hepatitis B virus DNA test). Other tests can tell if you're immune to hepatitis B, either because you had hepatitis B in the past and recovered from it, or following a vaccination.

If you test positive for active hepatitis B infection, your GP may ask you for another blood sample to carry out a liver function test, although this may have been routinely done during your initial hepatitis B test. This test measures certain enzymes and proteins in your blood and allows your doctor to monitor the progress of the disease, for example whether you have a damaged or inflamed liver.

Your GP may also discuss the possibility of referring you for a biopsy, where a small sample of liver tissue is taken and checked in a laboratory for any liver damage.

Further information

Sources

  • Diagnosis of acute hepatitis B. British Liver Trust. www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, accessed 21 August 2008
  • Diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B. British Liver Trust. www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, accessed 21 August 2008
  • Simon C, Everitt H, Kendrick T. Oxford Handbook of General Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007:496-497
  • Health clearance for tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV: new healthcare workers. Department of Health 2007. www.dh.gov.uk, accessed 8 August 2008
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How does hepatitis B differ from hepatitis A, C, D and E?

There are five types of hepatitis virus - A, B, C, D and E. Hepatitis A, B and C are the biggest problems for people in the UK. Hepatitis B, C and D tend to be chronic (lasting more than six months) infections and can cause long-term liver problems. You can only get hepatitis D if you already have hepatitis B. Hepatitis A and E infections are generally acute (only lasting a few weeks or months) and these don't damage your liver.

Explanation

Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E are all viruses that attack and damage the liver. You usually get hepatitis A and E infections from close personal contact with an infected person or by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Although it's rare that food or water contains hepatitis A, certain types of shellfish (eg mussels, oysters and clams), and food that has been washed in contaminated water can contain the virus. Hepatitis B, C and D are spread when an infected person's blood enters your bloodstream. Hepatitis D is an incomplete virus, which means you must already have hepatitis B infection for it to survive in your body. Only around one in 20 people with hepatitis B also have hepatitis D.

Hepatitis B, C and D infections can cause long-term liver problems, but hepatitis A and E infections don't. There are vaccines available that can protect you from hepatitis A and hepatitis B infection, but there is currently no vaccine to protect you from hepatitis C, D or E.

As hepatitis A and E are short-lived infections, they usually resolve without treatment. Because hepatitis B and hepatitis C (and hepatitis D if you already have hepatitis B) can cause long-term damage to your liver, it's important that you're assessed by an infection specialist or a hepatologist (a doctor specialising in liver diseases) as you may require antiviral medication to treat these infections. If you have had one type of viral hepatitis in the past, it's still possible to get the other types.

Further information

Sources

  • Hepatitis D and E. British Liver Trust. www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, accessed 21 August 2008
  • Simon C, Everitt H, Kendrick T. Oxford Handbook of General Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007:496-497
  • Fish and shellfish. Food Standards Agency. www.eatwell.gov.uk, accessed 13 July 2008
  • Immunizations - travel - background information. Hepatitis A. http://cks.library.nhs.uk, accessed 13 July 2008
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If I have hepatitis B, how long will I remain infectious?

If you have hepatitis B, you will remain infectious for as long as the virus can be detected in your bloodstream. This will vary from person to person and may only be a few weeks in someone who has acute hepatitis B and makes a full recovery, to lifelong infectiousness in a chronic carrier.

Explanation

Hepatitis B is an infectious disease and is easily passed to other people through body fluids. If you have chronic hepatitis B, you may be a carrier of the virus for life.

If you have hepatitis B infection, the virus is present in your blood and may be present in other body fluids such as semen and vaginal fluid. If you're infected with hepatitis B, you should try to minimise the risk of infecting other people. Common ways that you can pass the hepatitis B virus to someone else are by unprotected sexual contact and sharing needles during illegal drug use. The hepatitis B virus can survive outside your body for at least one week, so dispose of anything that could be contaminated with your blood.

To protect others, if you have hepatitis B:

  • don't have unprotected sex (always use a condom)
  • don't donate blood
  • don't share needles, syringes, razors or toothbrushes as they may be contaminated with infected blood
  • cover any cuts with a waterproof dressing

Hepatitis B isn't spread in the workplace (unless blood or secretions are handled there) or by casual contact such as touching hands and kissing, or sharing towels and eating utensils.

If you have chronic hepatitis B infection, ensure that your partner and close contacts are vaccinated to protect them against getting the disease.

Your GP will monitor your condition and, if necessary, refer you to an infection specialist or a hepatologist (a doctor specialising in liver diseases). Different blood tests can be done; each will tell your GP different things about your infection. A positive result for hepatitis B surface antigen indicates that you have hepatitis B, but further tests are required to find out how active the virus is and how infectious you are.

Further information

Sources

  • What is hepatitis B? British Liver Trust. www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, accessed 21 August 2008
  • Symptoms. Hepatitis B. British Liver Trust. www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, accessed 21 August 2008
  • Simon C, Everitt H, Kendrick T. Oxford Handbook of General Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007:496-497
  • Prevention. Hepatitis B. British Liver Trust. www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, accessed 21 August 2008
  • Transmission of HBV. British Liver Trust. www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, accessed 2 September 2008
  • Health clearance for tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV: new healthcare workers. Department of Health 2007. www.dh.gov.uk, accessed 8 August 2008
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Related topics

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This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: March 2009

 

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