The Little Book of Hep B Facts
1 What
Hepatitis B is inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. Over time this may lead to serious liver disease, including liver cancer.
What
There are seven genotypes (strains) of hepatitis B. Currently, the genotype makes no difference to how medical treatment is given.
2
3 What
Hepatitis
B
is not the same as hepatitis C or HIV. Infection with one of these viruses does not lead to, or protect from, infection with the others.
How Many
Over 254 million people world-wide live with chronic hepatitis B. About 1.1 million die each year from hepatitis B or hepatitis B related illness1.
Source: World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int/newsroom/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-b
How Many
World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int/news-room/ fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-b Globally, there are 1.2 million new infections each year.
How Many
6
In Australia, an estimated 205,549 people are living with chronic hepatitis B.
Source: Hepatitis B Mapping Projec: Hepatitis B, National Report 2022. p 21
How many7
Source: Viral Hepatitis Mapping Project: Hepatitis B, National Report 2022, p 21
8Transmission
Hepatitis B
virus can be found in the blood and other body fluids, such as semen or vaginal secretions, of people living with hepatitis B.
9 Transmission
Most people with long term hepatitis B got it from their mothers during birth or in early childhood from contact with infected blood through open cuts or scratches.
10Transmission
Hepatitis B is not hereditary. In other words, it is not passed from parent to child through the genes.
11Transmission
Australians most at-risk of hepatitis B are:
• people from regions of high prevalence, e.g. Asia, South Pacific, sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East,
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote communities.
12Transmission
In
Australia, new hepatitis
B transmissions are mainly through sharing injecting equipment and unprotected sex with an infected person.
Transmission 13
Hepatitis B is 10 times more infectious than hepatitis C and 100 times more infectious than HIV.
14Transmission
You cannot get hepatitis
B from water, tears, urine, faeces, sneezes, coughs, hugs, mosquitoes, toilet seats, shaking hands or sharing food and utensils.
Transmission 15
Transmission from mother to baby can be prevented by vaccination and injection of immunoglobulin within 12 hours of birth.
16 Transmission
There is no evidence of babies getting hepatitis B through breastfeeding.
Vaccination 17
There is a safe and effective vaccination for hepatitis B.
18Vaccination
Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for everyone, especially those who live with someone with chronic hepatitis B or those who are exposed to blood or other body fluids in their work.
19 Vaccination
Children born in Australia after 1986 are vaccinated against hepatitis B either through childhood immunisation or school catch up programs.
20 Vaccination
You can get hepatitis B vaccination from your GP, sexual health clinics and some local councils.
Outcome 21
9 out of 10 people who contract hepatitis B as an adult, will recover and remain immune for life.
22 Outcome
9 out of 10 babies who get hepatitis B will have hepatitis B for life.
Outcome 23
1 out of 4 people who have chronic hepatitis B are at risk of serious liver disease.
Outcome 24
A person is said to have chronic hepatitis B when the infection lasts longer than 6 months. “Chronic” is not a description of how severe the infection is.
25 Symptoms
Only about 3 in 10 people have symptoms when first infected. Symptoms are rare in children.
Common symptoms include: jaundice, fatigue, joint or abdominal pain, loss of appetite and flu-like illness.
26Symptoms
Most people living with chronic hepatitis B have no symptoms.
27 Testing
Simple blood tests can show if you have ever been exposed to, currently have, or are immune to hepatitis B.
28 Testing
Hepatitis B testing is available through your GP or sexual health clinic.
Treatment 29
There is treatment for hepatitis B to control the virus and slow down further liver damage.
30Treatment
Current hepatitis B treatment works best at certain stages of the disease. It is important to have regular checks by your doctor to find out the best time to be treated.
31 The Law
In Australia, you don’t have to tell anyone you have hepatitis B unless you are:
• a member of, or applying to join, the Australian Defence Force,
32 The Law
• a healthcare worker undertaking exposureprone procedures,
33 The Law
Or if you are:
• donating blood, organs or tissues,
• asked when applying for life or health insurance, or
• asked when participating in combat sports such as mixed martial arts.
The Law
34
It is illegal to discriminate against a person because he/she has, or is thought to have, hepatitis B.
35 Living with...
There is no such thing as a “healthy carrier”. All people with hepatitis B should have regular checks with their doctor to monitor their liver health.
36 Living with...
If you have hepatitis B, there is a higher risk of liver damage if you drink alcohol or have another form of hepatitis.
37 Living with...
If you have hepatitis B it is recommended that you:
• get a vaccination to protect yourself against hepatitis A
• maintain a healthy weight.
Living with...
38
If you have hepatitis B, have 6 monthly liver checks and keep to a healthy lifestyle. Many people with hepatitis B live long healthy lives.
