Hepatitis B Singapore | HIV PEP
Hepatitis B in Singapore: Hepatitis B is a serious viral infection that affects the liver. It is usually a short-term infection, but may persist and cause serious health problems.
Keywords: Hepatitis B in Singapore, Singapore hepatitis B, Hepatitis B
Abstract
What is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B in Singapore is an infectious liver disease resulting from infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B illness may last for a few weeks or for a lifetime. Based on how long the infection has remained in the body, hepatitis B is classified as either acute or chronic. You can acquire an infection only if the virus passes into your blood and reaches the liver. In the liver, the virus multiplies rapidly. In many cases, the immune system is capable of destroying the virus and clearing it from the body.
It’s possible to remain asymptomatic but to remain a carrier. Carriers of hepatitis B may not feel or look ill, but can still infect others. In some individuals, symptoms of serious illness may develop after many years. You don’t transmit hepatitis B infection by hugging or kissing, although personal items that contact blood (such as razors) may transmit the infection.
Causes
You acquire hepatitis B infection when infected body fluids, such as blood, vaginal secretions, or semen, enter into your body. Hepatitis B virus can survive and remain infectious for up to seven days outside the body. You may either acquire or transmit hepatitis B infection if you:
- Share items such as razors, toothbrushes, syringes, or injection needles.
- Have unprotected sex.
- Are exposed to contaminated blood by needlestick pricks or by direct contact of contaminated blood (splashes) with open wounds, scrapes, or burns.
- Experience direct contact of contaminated body fluids with the eyes, nose and mouth.
- Give birth to a baby, if you’re an infected mother.
Risk factors of hepatitis B
You’re at higher risk of getting hepatitis B in Singapore if you:
- Have a history of any sexually transmitted diseases
- Have multiple sex partners
- Have sexual contact with an person who is infected or who has been exposed to the virus
- Share needles or syringes
- Are living with a person with chronic hepatitis B infection
- Are born to an infected mother
- Are traveling to certain countries with moderate to high rates of hepatitis B infection
- Are on hemodialysis for kidney failure
- Receive a blood transfusion in a country that doesn’t screen the blood supply (in Singapore, hepatitis B screening is performed on all blood before transfusion)
- Are working in the medical field, including handling blood products or tissue, or performing any procedures that may expose you to blood. These professionals may get hepatitis B infection due to needle stick injuries or by contaminated blood spills over the body surface.
- Social workers working with mentally-challenged individuals with aggressive and/or biting behaviors may get hepatitis B.