Brief Answer: Information about hepatitis B Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX welcome to our site. I am Dr Saumya Mittal. Read your query. That is a very significant question and i appreciate your problem. I will try my best to answer your query First and foremost, hepatitis B is not exactly a sexually transmitted diseases. The most possible cause is blood transfusion or an infected needle, in your case, possibly an infected blade or scissors. As for hepatitis B infection, the infection seems to be self contained in your body. You see what happens sometimes is that you get a mild infection but the body is immune enough to suppress the full infection. However, Hepatitis B does not usually really wash out or clear off the body. It usually becomes a chronic infection and lasts a long time. There are some cases of resurfacing of infection know, but this is usually a rare eventuality. However if you are really considered, one might consider antiviral therapy for Hepatitis B. However I would like to tell you that the efficacy of the treatment is approximately 50%. In simple words, there is only a 50% chance that you will get fully cured on treatment. If you are still interested in the treatment, you need to meet a hepatologist. Meanwhile get the following tests, if not already done0 HBsAg, Anti HBs, Anti HBc. Get your liver function tests checked regularly and periodically. I hope this helps you. Inform the reports mentioned above so i can be of help further. Best of luck. I have given you the answer to the maximum considering the information provided. The results of the tests could further enhance my answer to you. Please do understand that some details could be extracted from a detailed history and examination. Looking forward to your return query with the details asked and further queries so that I can help you further. (If the answer has helped you, please indicate this)

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Brief Answer: Accept the infection... Detailed Answer: Hello again XXXXXXX First and foremost I am glad that you are taking care that the infection does not spread. That is very considerate of you. And I would also like to thank you for having confidence in me. What I felt from your response was that right now you are more worried about transmission to others. Let me tell you. Hepatitis B does not spread by the normal touching and shaking hands. It is not that kind of a disease. As I said, the chances of spread are mostly by blood transfusion, blood to blood contact and sexual intercourse. Having said that, you need to understand that the amount of virus in your body needs to be high for transmission to occur. An HBV RNA PCR (quantitative) can be done to make sure that the levels are low and transmission does not happen. I am sure the doctor you are meeting will do so. As for drinking and sharing, it is OK, and you need not worry about it. Coming to the sexual intercourse part, I don't think you need to worry, The HBV DNA PCR test holds true to that too. So I think you should wait for the test. Relax, the very fact that you think about this makes sure that you are not going to transmit. Try to make yourself accept the infection, and you will find that you can love normally. IT IS NO BIG DEAL. As for complications, a resurgence of infection can occur if at some stage your immunity does get low. An long standing complication of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is a possibility but the chances are low. It is more common in other infections associated like HCV, HDV. However I recollect from your last query that those are negative. So, if I were you, I wont worry much. Hope this has been helpful. Would be happy to help with any other query as well Dr Saumya Mittal, MD

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