Question
Am I cured of hepatitis B and is it possible to still infect my partner?
4 August 2010. Related: All topics, Complications and coinfections, Other tests.
If I had hepatitis B and the doctor says I either had the vaccination, which I didn’t, or my body overcame it does that mean I can or cannot be a carrier and my partners are at risk? My doctor didn’t seem to think much of it.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
The answer is a little more complicated than you might think but I will try and explain it as easily as I can.
For the doctor to have mentioned the possibility of vaccination, he or she must have found antibodies to hepatitis B. Antibodies are what our bodies produce when there is an infection. When someone has a vaccination it is sort of like fooling the body into thinking there is an infection so that it builds up a response without actually having the infection itself.
Hepatitis B antibodies are a little more complicated than other strains of hepatitis as there are three antibodies to look for and they indicate different things:
Hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs) – if you have these antibodies it indicates that you have either had a vaccination or have recovered from an infection and are immune to further infections.
Hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc) – this is present when there is acute or chronic infection. Acute infection usually occurs when someone is newly infected and is symptomatic. Chronic infection is long-term and not always symptomatic. People with chronic infection who are asymptomatic are usually called ‘carriers’. During the acute and chronic stages of infection, the person infected is contagious.
Hepatitis B e antibodies (anti-HBe) – these are usually found in people who have recovered from acute hepatitis B infection. They are present at the same time as anti-HBc and anti-HBs. In people with chronic hepatitis B, anti-HBe can be used to monitor the infection and whether the treatment is working or not.
It sounds from your question that your doctor found anti-HBs antibodies. In which case you are no longer infectious.
However, it is important to make sure that this is the case if you are to avoid infecting any partners in the future. You should ask your doctor to test your blood to make sure it is the surface antibodies and not the core or e antibodies that you have.
For further information you can follow this link
Hi Ignatius,
Are you living with HIV?
Hepatitis B positive, urine clear though on tenolam treatment, will it help?
Hi James,
Are you living with HIV?
I have had a few incidents of malarial attacks prioritize to my being diagnosed with Hepatitis b virus. it has been with me since 2000. I started using Lamivudine and I began experienceing some improvement in my health. But I need to take it daily. When will I stop taking these drugs? my urine went from dark brown to orange in colour. What does that mean?
Hi Micheal,
It looks like your post didn’t come through, could you please email it to us at: questions@i-base.org.uk
I posted about my issue on hep B two days I have not heard from you guys what’s happening give me a feedback
Hi, Are you HIV positive? HIV i-Base are not experts in Hep B. Although we can help with questions about co-infection with HIV and Hep B. Having acute Hep B usually means you’ve just been infected and that you have symptoms, such as yellow eyes. In the acute stage of infection a person is usually infectious. It’s important to talk to your doctor about managing acute Hep B, and about it being contagious.
Hi, I’m 24 years old and I have acute Hep B. Will it be cured? My eyes are yellow and my urine is dark. My doctor said that it is not contagious. I just wanted to know will it be cured and how much time it will take. I am depressed with this.
Hi,
Are you HIV positive? i-Base are not expects in Hep B, although we can help with questions about coinfection with HIV and Hep B.
Smoking carries a number of risks to general health, whether you have hepatitis or not. Some studies have suggested that smoking when you have Hepatitis B could increase your risk of developing liver cancer, although these have not been conclusive.
Am Hepatitis b possitive
I dont drink,but i do smoke
Should i quit smoking?
Cuz my doctor never tell me anything.