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  • What to do about hepatitis B when you're pregnant?

    Around the world, the most common mode of hepatitis B transmission is from mother to child. Unfortunately, pregnant mothers who have hepatitis B can transmit the virus to their newborn during the delivery process. 90% of these HBV infected babies will progress to chronic infection  putting them at increased risk of serious liver disease or liver cancer later in life. It is important that ALL pregnant women get tested for hepatitis B to prevent the transmission of the virus to newborns at birth. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all newborns born to hepatitis B positive women be given two shots in the delivery room - the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine (5 mcg dose) and one dose of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG, 0.5 mL dose). If a woman knows that she is infected, it is important that she tell her doctor to have these two drugs available when she is ready to deliver. These two shots must be given at separate injection sites, i.e. different limbs. When administered correctly within the first 12 hours of life, a newborn has a 95% chance of being protected against a lifelong hepatitis B infection. The infant will need to complete the hepatitis B vaccine according to schedule as part of a 3 or 4 dose series. CDC recommends follow up testing to confirm immunity or protection against HBV at 9 months or at the baby’s 1 year checkup. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine for ALL babies, though it is especially important for a baby born to a woman with hepatitis B to receive the first dose of the vaccine as soon as possible, within 24 hours. HBIG may not be available in all countries or may be cost prohibitive. The hepatitis B vaccine series may be completed with the remaining monovalent  (single) injections of the HBV vaccine, or may be completed as part of a combination vaccine series. In developing countries combination vaccines such as the pentavalent vaccine are often

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/hepatitis-b-youre-pregnant/
  • The 3-Shot Hepatitis B Vaccine - Do I Need to Restart the Series if I Am Off the Recommended Schedule?

    The Hepatitis B vaccine is a safe and effective 3-shot series that protects against the hepatitis B virus.  If you do not have a current hepatitis B infection, or have not recovered from a past infection, then hepatitis B vaccination is an important way to protect yourself. The recommended schedule for the hepatitis B vaccine is to receive the first shot, followed in one month by the second shot.  Six months following the first shot, you should receive your third and final shot of the series. If you wish to ensure you have generated adequate immunity, and are protected, you can have your anti-HBs (HBsAb) titres checked 4-8 weeks following the last shot of the hepatitis B vaccine series.  If your titer is greater than 10 mIU/mL, then you have adequate immunity which is thought to confer lifetime immunity, but studies so far show 30 years.  This is because these studies are on-going! Please note that checking anti-HBs titres is not generally recommended for all vaccine recipients, with the exception of those that are at greater risk of infection.   This includes but is not limited to health care workers, those with sexual partners with hepatitis B, and those living in a household where someone is infected. Talk to your doctor if you think you might be at higher risk and need to have your titres checked. So what happens if you go for shot one, followed by shot two in a month, but you never get to shot three?  The minimum length of time between the three shots in the series is 0, 1 month, and 6 months.  This is the schedule recommended for the shortest amount of time, with the best immune response for the general population.  However, if you don’t get to shot three of the series for another two years, or if you never got to shot two, you can resume right from where you left off, and continue without the need for repeating the series. Just remember that you are not fully protected until you have completed the series. Here is a rule to remember the minimum time

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/the-3-shot-hbv-vaccine-do-i-need-to-restart-the-series-if-i-am-off-the-recommended-schedule/
  • Struggling with Depression and Hepatitis B? You’re Not Alone

    Image courtesy of Tuomas_Lehtinen at FreeDigitalPhotos.net. By Christine Kukka Studies show people with chronic hepatitis B have higher rates of depression and anxiety than the general population, which should surprise no one. There’s no cure, people with hepatitis B face stigma and discrimination, and when we disclose, we risk rejection or friends think we’ve done drugs or slept around. And, if we are people of color, we’re already viewed as outsiders or different already; a medical diagnosis just adds to our feeling of alienation. Sometimes, we need help. We need to be reminded once again that hepatitis B is nothing to be ashamed of, that millions of people around the world are infected not because they did anything wrong, but because it’s not a perfect world and not everyone had access to the hepatitis B vaccine at birth or sterile medical equipment or is able to practice safe sex 100 percent of the time. Some symptoms of depression include feeling sad, down, or just emotionally flat or apathetic. We may feel tired, irritable, or experience mood swings and find we are unable to concentrate. If we're taking antivirals, we may frequently forget to take our meds. We might also lose our appetite, sleep too much or too little, and fantasize about harming ourselves or even suicide. Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net It’s time to get some help. Medical guidelines usually recommend a combination of “talk” therapy and antidepressant medication. Talking to a therapist, especially if you’ve always kept your hepatitis B a secret, can help you get a better handle on your infection. It can be liberating to have another person challenge your cataclysmic view of life, especially if you’re you’ll never find love or happiness. It’s also good to join a support group or an email list to confirm that you’re not the only one in the world with hepatitis B. The other treatment for depression are antidepressant pills, taken daily.

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/struggling-depression-hepatitis-b-youre-not-alone/
  • July 4th: Celebrating Freedom from Discrimination Against Hepatitis B

    Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net The day my daughter started kindergarten, her teacher asked that she be transferred to another classroom. She thought my daughter posed a health threat to a classmate who was recovering from leukemia. Our doctor had disclosed my daughter’s chronic hepatitis B infection on her school health form. I thought the school nurse would know my daughter posed no risk to students, who were nearly all immunized against hepatitis B and supervised by teachers trained in universal precautions. I was wrong on many counts. The school nurse went along with the teacher’s recommendation. After heated discussions with the school principal that included providing copies of medical reports and civil rights laws, my daughter remained in the classroom and the school’s staff received training on universal precautions. That happened 16 years ago. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) had been enacted 10 years earlier and policy makers, health officials and the courts were still working out exactly how the landmark law would protect people with blood-borne infections such as HIV and hepatitis B and C. Even though the ADA was a work in progress at the time, it still played a critical role in protecting my daughter’s right to an education without any restrictions, and that’s what I celebrate every July 4. U.S. schools have historically been center stage for some of our worse acts of discrimination, beginning with racial segregation. But just as courts dismantled racial discrimination in schools, so, too, has it cleared the way for equal access to education for students with blood-borne infections. In 1985, Indiana school officials refused to allow HIV-infected Ryan White to return to school because they feared he posed a health threat to other students. It took a team of lawyers and medical experts armed with research to show he posed no risk to fellow students. Nearly 30 years later, some medical, nursing and dentistry

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/july-4th-celebrating-freedom-from-discrimination-against-hepatitis-b/
  • Liver Cancer Awareness Month

    Every year in October we recognize Liver Cancer Awareness Month. This is an important health observance because almost 300 million people worldwide are living with hepatitis B, and that puts them at higher risk for developing liver cancer.  The Link Between Liver Cancer and Hepatitis B The most common type of liver cancer is “primary liver cancer” or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Worldwide, the most common risk factor for primary liver cancer is chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus. Chronic viral hepatitis infections (hepatitis B and hepatitis C) cause about 80% of all liver cancers. Obesity, heavy alcohol use, fatty liver disease (NAFLD or NASH), and some metabolic disorders also increase the risk for primary liver cancer. People chronically infected with hepatitis B are more likely to develop liver cancer than uninfected people because the virus directly and repeatedly attacks the liver. These attacks over time can lead to increased liver damage, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), and ultimately, liver cancer. People with hepatitis B may also be at risk for liver cancer in the absence of cirrhosis. Those who have chronic hepatitis B can reduce their risk of liver cancer through regular medical monitoring, including liver cancer surveillance, taking antiviral treatment if necessary, and making healthy lifestyle changes. The best way to prevent liver cancer is to prevent hepatitis B infection! This is why hepatitis B vaccination is so important. When someone gets vaccinated to protect them from getting hepatitis B, they are also helping to prevent liver cancer! Resources to Learn More About Liver Cancer - Liver Cancer Connect is a program of the Hepatitis B Foundation that was created to provide individuals and families with the information and support they need when facing the challenge of primary liver cancer. - Read two liver cancer and hepatitis B vignettes that highlight real life experiences here: Ignore it till it goes away & If it's not broken, don't fix it.  - Video with liver expert, Dr. Gish discussing the importance of liver cancer surveillance. Watch it here.  - The B Heppy Podcast has a great episode with Dr. Rothstein about the relationship between liver cancer and hepatitis B. Listen here.  - The International Liver Cancer Movement (ILCM) is an excellent resource for all things liver cancer. Visit their website here.   - Seek Community Support: HepBCommunity.org is a global peer-led, volunteer-driven forum to support those living with and affected by hep B. They are dedicated to connecting people affected by hepatitis B with each other and verified experts in the field, who provide trustworthy and accurate advice. Thank you for stopping by to learn more about Liver Cancer Awareness Month and the connection between liver cancer and hepatitis B. How Can I Help? If you would like to help support cutting-edge research and programs that fight liver cancer, please donate here. 

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/liver-cancer-awareness-month/
  • Dating and Hepatitis B - A Personal Perspective

    Great insights and advice on dating with chronic HBV from a member of the Hepatitis B Information and Support List.      Dating is a recurring topic on the Hepatitis B Information and Support List, and for good reason.  Many think having a chronic (infectious) illness like hepatitis B makes them less than worthy of love and a normal life with a romantic partner.  Unfortunately we forget we are more than our illness and focus on the things we cannot change rather than the wonderful things we have to offer a partner. I have been on several dating sites since my divorce a few years ago, so I have some experience with this. My personal philosophy and method is to be selective about the people I choose to date.  To me, it is important if the potential date has common sense and good character. Once I feel this person is worthy of my time and attention, I have the talk about my hepatitis B, and that HBV is vaccine preventable.  If they are interested in continuing a romantic relationship with me, they need to be vaccinated to protect against HBV.  Some may have already been vaccinated, and if so, HBV is no longer an issue. You need to approach dating, not as who will ‘accept’ you, but rather who ‘deserves' you. Perspective is everything. If you see a health issue like HBV as a unique barrier to intimacy others will not understand and might reject you for, you will create self-defeating thoughts that not only limit your happiness, but are inaccurate. Everyone has issues. Whether it is health, mental, social or financial, we all feel alone at times and want a connection with another soul. Dating with HBV can be compared to interviewing for a job. In a job interview you would present your best traits to a potential employer.  While you want to be honest about your shortcomings, you don’t tell them why they would NOT want to hire you.  That would be stupid. Right?  Yet it is often how we approach dating, thinking no one will accept us,

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/dating-and-hepatitis-b-a-personal-perspective/
  • Hepatitis B Foundation Welcomes Two New Board Members

    Pharmaceutical industry executive Wayne Yetter and engineering industry executive Craig Esterly to serve on board of national nonprofit research and disease advocacy organization. DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (January 2015) – The Hepatitis B Foundation (www.hepb.org) is pleased to announce that engineer and business owner Craig Esterly and pharmaceutical industry executive Wayne Yetter have joined its board of directors. “We are proud to welcome two new additions to our board of directors who bring with them broad and deep experience in the healthcare arena,” said Dr. Timothy Block, President of the Hepatitis B Foundation and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center. “Craig and Wayne are a great fit for the Hepatitis B Foundation and we are glad to have them join us at a time when even more promising research into hepatitis B therapies is on the near horizon.” Yetter had a 30-year career in the pharmaceutical industry and held executive positions at Pfizer, Merck, Astra Merck (now Astra Zeneca) and Novartis. His roles included Vice President Far East and Pacific at Merck, founding CEO of Astra Merck, and President and CEO of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., the U.S. division of Novartis AG. He also served as COO of IMS Heath, a healthcare market research company, and as Chairman and CEO of Synavant, Inc., a spin-off of IMS. He has served as Chairman of the Board and Lead Director of several public biotech and healthcare companies. He received his undergraduate degree in biology from Wilkes University and an MBA from Bryant University. A resident of Solebury Twp., Pennsylvania, Yetter previously served on the boards of directors of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association, and the National Pharmaceutical Council. He also was a member of the board of trustees for Wilkes University for 12 years and currently serves as a director of the SEI Center for Advanced Studies in Management at the Wharton School. Esterly co-founded and is the managing member of SD Asset Group, LLC, a holding company for captive co-founded engineering and construction companies, as well as private investments. Previously, he served as a turnaround chief executive for both public and private businesses. Esterly holds an undergraduate degree in mineral engineering from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. Now living in Punta Gorda, Florida, Esterly serves on the board of directors of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Presbyterian Shadyside Hospitals and Shadyside Hospital Foundation, as well as the mental health advocacy group, LEAD Pittsburgh. He previously has served on the boards of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, East Liberty Family Health Care Center, Pittsburgh Presbyterian Foundation and Social Venture Partners Pittsburgh.

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/hepatitis-b-foundation-welcomes-two-new-board-members-4/
  • Peter V's Story

    After being on medication for hepatitis B for more than a decade, Peter’s GI doctor told him that his reduced viral load meant he could stop taking his medication. Just a year and a half later, Peter was in the hospital awaiting a liver transplant. Fortunately, a donor was found, and Peter is recovering well. He realizes that his GI doctor may not have understood the dangers of taking him off his hepatitis B medicine, and he has now found a trusted hepatologist to monitor his condition moving forward. Related Blog Post: I had a Liver Transplant Because of Hep B: Here’s What You Should Know  

    https://www.hepb.org/research-and-programs/patient-story-telling-project/peter-vs-story/
  • Protect Your Loved Ones

    It is important to make sure you prevent transmission of the hepatitis B virus to those you love: The first step is to have household family members and sexual partners tested and vaccinated if they are not infected, or have not recovered from a past HBV infection Hepatitis B can be spread through direct contact with blood – blood to blood, unprotected sex, and contact with infected bodily fluids, so until you know that your family members are protected: avoid unprotected sex – use latex or polyurethane condoms. don’t share personal items like razors, needles, nail clippers, tooth brushes or earrings, body jewelry – anything that might have trace amounts of blood on them. make sure you keep all cuts and open sores covered clean all blood spills with a fresh 1:9 solution of bleach and water (1 part bleach to 9 parts water), making sure gloves are used. Once you are sure that loved ones are protected through vaccination, you do not have to worry about possibly infecting them. If you wish to confirm that your family member is protected, you can have the doctor run an anti-HBs titer test 1-2 months following the last shot of the vaccine series. Hepatitis B is NOT spread through casual contact, hugging, coughing, sneezing, or eating food prepared by someone who is infected, or eating dinner with him or her. You do not have to worry about these things even before your family members are protected by the vaccine. So, even while your family members or sexual partners are completing the vaccine series, you do not have to worry about transmitting the virus through casual contact.

    https://www.hepb.org/treatment-and-management/adults-with-hepatitis-b/protect-your-loved-ones/
  • Vaccine Safety

    Hepatitis B Vaccine Safety The hepatitis B vaccine is considered one of the most safe and effective vaccines ever produced. The most highly respected public health agencies and professional medical associations have rigorously studied the safety of the hepatitis B vaccine. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and many different medical societies have concluded that there is no confirmed evidence that the hepatitis B vaccine causes: autism, autoimmune disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic illness, guillian-barre syndrome, multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, rheumatoid arthritis, seizures, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or transverse myelitis. If you have any questions about vaccine safety, call or email  the CDC National Immunization Information 1-(800) CDC-INFO (or 1-800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348 Email: CDC-Info To Report a Vaccine Adverse Event Call the  Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) at 1-(800) 822-7967 You can also complete the VAERS Form online.

    https://www.hepb.org/prevention-and-diagnosis/vaccination/vaccine-safety/