Health Report

Let's Talk About Hepatitis B

by Unknown Author

(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.)

What is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is the name for several different illnesses which all cause the same problem: an inflamed (swollen or painful) liver.

What are the symptoms?

Some people who get infected with Hepatitis B do not get very ill. Some do not get sick at all. Children are more likely than adults to show no symptoms even when they are infected. In more severe cases, Hepatitis can cause:

• loss of appetite;
• nausea and vomiting;
• pain in the liver (right under the rib cage);
• pain in the joints; and
• jaundice (when the urine becomes darker than normal and the eyes and skin go yellow).

Normally these symptoms disappear in a few weeks, but even when the person feels much better, he or she may still be infected with Hepatitis B.

Is Hepatitis B Dangerous?

Most people who catch Hepatitis B recover completely and do not get the disease again. A few people, however, become very ill and some may even die.

What is Carrier?

Some people become carriers of the Hepatitis B virus, which means that the virus stays in their bodies for their whole lives. People who are carriers may eventually suffer illnesses such as liver cancer and chronic liver disease, but often they show no symptoms. Even while they seem in good health, carriers can infect other people.

In some population groups many people are infected when they are children and as many as one in five people are carriers. These population groups include Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, South East Asians and Pacific Islanders.

How is Hepatitis B Spread?

The Hepatitis virus is present in the blood of an infected person. If infected blood enters into another person's blood stream, that person may catch the disease. The disease can be spread by:

• Drug users sharing needles and syringes;
• Piercing the skin with equipment which is not properly cleaned and sterilized;
• Razor Blades and toothbrushes through close personal contact in a household in which a carrier resides form a low but sufficient risk;
• One person's blood being exposed to open cuts on another person; and
• People who get blood transfusions do not run the risk of Hepatitis B infection because blood donations are screened for the virus.

You cannot catch Hepatitis B from contact with urine or faeces unless they contain blood.

Sex

The virus can be spread if people have sexual intercourse without a condom.

How can I avoid catching Hepatitis B?

Everyone can take simple steps to protect themselves. Use condoms every time you have anal or vaginal sex. Oral sex is unlikely to spread Hepatitis B but it is best to avoid oral sex if you or your partner has herpes, ulcers or bleeding gums If you inject drugs, never share needles and syringes or other equipment such as spoons, swabs and water. Always use sterile needles and syringes. These are available from needle and syringe exchanges and some chemists.

Did you know that The Gender Centre is a needle and syringe exchange?

The Gender Centre can be accessed from Monday to Friday from 10am to 5.30pm or through the outreach worker. You should also consider being immunised if you:

• have a sexual partner who has Hepatitis B;
• are a homosexual or bisexual;
• have many sexual partners;
• live in a house where someone has Hepatitis B;
• are a health care or emergency worker;
• are a long time prisoner;
• are a kidney dialysis patient; and
• already have a liver disease such as Hepatitis C.

Can I be immunised Against Hepatitis B?

Yes, a course of three doses gives protection to about 95% of people. For maximum protection, you must receive three doses of the vaccine. The second dose is given one month after the first dose, the third is given five months after that. Remember the Hep B vaccination only protects against Hepatitis B - it does not protect people from other Hepatitis viruses.

Once you have had the three doses you can have a blood test to see if you are protected. The test and a booster dose every five years are recommended for those at high risk.

See a doctor immediately. If you have been exposed recently your doctor can give you treatment which greatly reduces the risk of becoming infected with Hepatitis B.

Don't Forget About Outreach on a Thursday!

If you need a visit you will need to make an arrangements with me (the Outreach Worker) on 0407 929 915 and give me at least 24 hours notice. Wednesday night drop-ins are still on and going strong from 6:00pm - 8:00pm every week. Lots of yummy food to be had so come along and meet some new people and have a chat.

Better Health in less than an hour

Walking or jogging for 30-45 minutes, 3-5 times a week can lower blood pressure by a heart-healthy 10% reports a new study from Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. But running for more than 60 minutes, six days a week, causes the heart to pump more blood, sending the blood pressure back to its original level, according to researcher Bernard Levine M.D. Boosting your mileage isn't dangerous, but it won't give you any more cardiovascular benefits than exercising in moderation.

Green Is Great

If you baked in the sun as a teen (before you knew better), drink green tea now - it may help fight skin cancer, according to an article in the Archives of Dermatology. The tea's polyphenols, natural compounds already shown to neutralise cancer-causing chemicals in test tubes, were found to have anti-carcinogenic potential for skin as well. Researchers speculate that green tea-enriched products could one day help prevent skin disorders.

Mint Madness

When you reach for a breath mint after a meal, make it the sugar-free kind. Mints with sugar actually feed the bacteria that cause bad breath.

Polare is published in Australia by The Gender Centre Inc. which is funded by the Department of Community Services under the S.A.A.P. Program and supported by the N.S.W. Health Department through the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch. Polare provides a forum for discussion and debate on gender issues. Advertisers are advised that all advertising is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. Unsolicited contributions are welcome, though no guarantee is made by the Editor that they will be published, nor any discussion entered into. The editor reserves the right to edit such contributions without notification. Any submission which appears in Polare may be published on our internet site. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, The Gender Centre Inc.I, the Department of Community Services or the N.S.W. Department of Health.