Hepatitis B Info

Glossary

AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is caused by infection with a virus called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This virus is passed from one person to another through infected blood and body fluids through unprotected sex and sharing needles.

Acute Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. Infection can be considered to be either acute or chronic. The acute phase of the infection is from time of exposure until six months afterwards. The reason that the period is six months is because this is the usual amount of time it takes a healthy adult to clear the infection and develop protective antibodies. A person is still contagious during this six month period.¹

Anti-virals: These medications are one type available for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. These medications prevent the hepatitis B virus from replicating or making copies of itself.

Hepatitis B Blood Test: Your healthcare provider will take a small amount of your blood to determine if you have the hepatitis B virus. The test detects protein on the surface of the virus which, if found, is indicative of hepatitis B. Once you are found to have the virus further blood tests will be performed to check the severity of the virus and any liver damage.²

Body Fluids: These are fluids that can be passed from one person to another through sex or by sharing needles or personal items. Body fluids include semen, vaginal fluids and saliva.

Chronic Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. Infection can be considered to be either acute or chronic. An individual has chronic hepatitis B if they have tested positive for the virus for more than six months. Most people who develop chronic hepatitis B will live with the virus for the rest of their lives. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to liver failure, liver cancer, or cirrhosis - a condition that causes permanent scarring of the liver. ^1,3

Cirrhosis: Cirrhosis of the liver is characterised by permanent and severe scarring of the liver caused by chronic liver inflammation. Cirrhosis is also the main cause of primary liver cancer.

Fibrosis: Fibrosis occurs when healthy liver cells are damaged by the hepatitis B virus, which are replaced by mild to moderate scar tissue, called fibrous tissue. The liver is still able to carry out all normal functions and people may experience little to no symptoms.

Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. It is generally spread by coming into contact with contaminated water or faeces and is common in areas where water supplies and/ or sewage disposal are of poor standard. High risk areas are Southern and Eastern Europe, Africa and parts of the Middle-East and Far-East.

Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus and is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. It is passed from an infected person to another through blood and body fluids.

Hepatitis C: Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus. It is generally spread through direct contact with infected human blood and the most common modes of transmission are by sharing equipment for sharing drugs and through blood transfusion (pre-1991) or blood clotting factors (pre-1986). In most countries, donated blood is now checked for the virus before it is given to someone.⁴

Hepatitis D: Hepatitis D is caused by the hepatitis D virus. The hepatitis D virus needs the hepatitis B virus to survive.⁵ Sometimes people with hepatitis B also get hepatitis D because both are passed from one person to the other through blood and body fluids.

Hepatitis E: Hepatitis E is caused by the hepatitis E virus. Similar to the hepatitis A virus, it is spread by coming into contact with the faeces of an infected person.

Hepatitis G: Not a lot is known about the hepatitis G virus or even if it causes illness. It may be transmitted through contaminated blood in blood transfusions.

Hepatocytes: Cells in the liver

HIV: HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to AIDS. It is passed from one person to the other through infected blood and body fluids.

Immune System: The immune system is the body's defence system and it fights infections. The body's immune system is found throughout the body in cells and organs.

Inflammation: When the liver first becomes infected with hepatitis B, mild to moderate swelling will occur. Liver inflammation can also lead to more serious conditions such as fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Interferons: Interferons are a kind of drug treatment used to treat chronic hepatitis B. They are administered by injections and some interferon hepatitis B treatments must be given three times a week.⁶ They work by boosting the body's immune system to fight the hepatitis B virus.

Intravenously: Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is giving medications or fluids to people directly into a vein.

Liver: The liver is the largest and one of the most important organs in the body. The liver stores fats, sugars, vitamins and other nutrients that our body needs to keep going. It also helps the body get rid of toxins and infections.

Liver Cancer: Malignant tumours that form on the liver. Hepatitis B is responsible for 80% of all primary liver cancer worldwide.

Liver Disease: This term applies to many diseases and disorders that cause the liver to function improperly or cease functioning.

Liver Transplant: A liver transplant occurs when a diseased liver is replaced by a healthy one obtained from an organ donor.

Symptoms of Hepatitis B: Symptoms may include tiredness, nausea, stomach pain and weight loss. They also can include not feeling hungry or feeling pain in the joints. In some people, the skin and eyes may become yellow. Occasionally, person's urine may be dark coloured and the stools or bowel movement may be whitish. About 30 percent of people with hepatitis B have no signs or symptoms.⁷

Hepatitis B Vaccine: There are vaccines to prevent hepatitis B. They are not always available to everyone in every country. They cannot help if you have already been infected with the virus.

Medications for Hepatitis B: For people with chronic hepatitis B, there are two kinds of medications: anti-virals and interferons. Anti-virals work by stopping the virus from replicating or making copies of itself. Interferons work by helping the body's immune system fight infection.

Resistance: Resistance occurs when a medication stops working as a result of the virus developing immunity to the medication.

Toxins: These are poisons that the body produces. Toxins can cause disease.

Unprotected Sex: Having unprotected sex is having sex without a condom. Condoms can help stop the spread of infection from one person to another.

Virus: A virus is an infectious agent too small to see. It replicates or makes copies of itself inside the body's cells. This causes disease.

Viral Load: Viral load is the amount of virus in the blood. A lesser amount of virus means there is less risk for serious liver disease.