Hepatitis B

Have you been asked by your doctor to check for your Hepatitis B antibody or immune level before? Or after blood tests, you were asked to be vaccinated? Is this Hepatitis B thingy really that important? Do I really need to get myself vaccinated?

Hepatitis B (not to be confused with other forms of hepatitis) is a viral disease caused by Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).
What is important about this Hepatitis B virus is:
1) There is no cure for it
2) It is quite easily transmitted if unvaccinated
3) It has the potential to cause liver cancer and cirrhosis  (and it may leave you pretty much disabled), and die a slow death.
4) It can be prevented (95% efficiency) by vaccine.

According to WHO (World Health Organization) South East Asia, about 2 to 3 in 100 people are infected by Hepatitis B Virus. Some maybe in chronic liver inflammation state, some maybe carrier without any symptoms, some maybe already disabled and waiting on their death beds.
Hepatitis B is passed on from one person to another pretty much the same way as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, that causes AIDS), only that Hepatitis B has a much higher transmission rate. Meaning it is easier for someone (unvaccinated) to get Hepatitis B than HIV by many folds.
Any bodily fluid can potentially be a carrier for the virus (blood, saliva, semen etc.) and can survived outside of human body for at least a week.

So what this virus does is:

Is it important for us?
In a way, yes, because Hepatitis B virus has a high rate of transmission.
It can be passed horizontally (through sexual contact, blood contacts, bodily fluids) to another person, and also vertically (from mother to child).
We may not be able to discern if a person has HBV by just looking at them.

Does that mean all individuals infected by Hepatitis B virus will eventually die of liver cancer/cirrhosis?
No, there are a lot of individuals, who are carriers, who showed no signs/symptoms at all. They can lead a healthy life like all other individuals, get married and have kids.
Carriers of Hepatitis B virus are advised for regular monitoring, in case the virus act up, early intervention will give better prognosis.
As for those who are suffering from chronic inflammation already, there are drugs which are able to suppress and slow the progress into cirrhosis, prolonging the life, and improving the quality of life. (Still there's no cure though, and it is still a progressive disease)

What can we do?
1. If you are a carrier, please get your regular check up done.
2. If you are having the signs and symptoms, you probably should be under proper medical follow up already.
3. If you are free from Hepatitis B, please do get your vaccination. Normally, your immunity will last about 3-5 years (may vary between 1 year and even 10) after your vaccination.
4. If you are a first degree relative, or in a inner circle of a Hepatitis B affected person, do get your antibody level checked yearly with vaccine booster jab as per needed.

Have any question about Hepatitis B?
Do let me know, or leave me a comment.