Hepatitis B Vaccine

Hepatitis – The risk for travellers

The hepatitis (b) virus is transmitted through contact with blood or body fluids from an infected person. It is a sexually transmitted disease and also a disease transmitted by contaminated needles and medical equipment.

Most tourists and short-term travellers are generally considered to be at low risk of catching hepatitis (b). However the risk of

infection may increase with certain behaviour and activities, particularly if you are a frequent or long term-traveller.

Expatriates, those travelling for a medical reason or with medical conditions and those visiting friends or relatives are also at increased risk of infection, especially in countries where hepatitis is highly prevalent.

Where is Hepatitis (B) prevalent?

Hepatitis (B) is present worldwide but is more prevalent in some countries than others. High prevalence regions are those where at least 8% of the population is chronically infected and include sub-Saharan Africa, most of Asia, and the Pacific islands. Parts of Eastern Europe, Greenland and some of rural Northern Canada also have a high prevalence.

How can you catch Hepatitis (B)?

Transmission of the virus occurs when blood or body fluids (such as semen) from an infected person enters the body of a person who is not infected. The virus is highly contagious, which means that it can be passed on after exposure to a very small amount of contaminated blood or body fluids.

The main ways that you could be at risk are:

By having unprotected sex (oral, vaginal or anal) with an infected person; this includes men who have sex with men.

From exposure to infected blood, for example:

From contaminated instruments used during medical and dental procedures, acupuncture, body piercing, tattoos, and face or head shaving

By sharing needles or syringes when injecting drugs

Through blood transfusions (donated blood is screened in the UK for viruses such as hepatitis (B), but this may not be the case in some other countries)

Through injuries sustained during contact sports

Healthcare workers can be at risk from needle stick injuries (an accidental prick from an infected needle) where the needle has been used on an infected person

A pregnant woman with hepatitis (B) can pass it to her baby, or it can be passed from child to child

Hepatitis (B) is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver.

Hepatitis (B) – what are the symptoms?

Not everyone develops symptoms, but if you do experience symptoms it might take two or three months for them to appear after exposure to the virus.

Symptoms of the disease include nausea and vomiting, lack of interest in food, abdominal pain, and possibly a mild fever. You may also become jaundiced (yellowing of the skin and eyes) which is a sign of liver damage.

Most adults recover with no long-term problems but some go on to develop severe liver damage which could be life-threatening.

Some people might continue to carry the virus but remain unaware that they have contracted hepatitis (B). This is called chronic hepatitis (B). Chronic carriers of hepatitis B remain infectious to others and are at risk of progressive liver disease, which develops over many years, potentially resulting in cirrhosis or liver cancer. Children infected at birth or in childhood are more likely to become a chronic carrier than those infected as an adult.

Hepatitis (B) affects up to 10% of people in SE Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and South America

This viral disease is incurable and very easily transmitted. It can lead to liver cirrhosis and even liver cancer.

Vaccination is the most effective way to reduce the risk of getting Hepatitis (B)

An accelerated course of vaccines takes 3-4 weeks.

Accidents abroad are more common than you might think – in fact, they are the commonest adverse incidents in British subjects abroad.

Sterile medical kits are available free of charge at Regent Street Clinic™.