Hi !

Thank you for you query.

Well Hepatitis B is a viral infection whose transmission mainly occurs through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. Common modes of transmission are:
perinatal (from mother to baby at birth, unsafe injection practices, unsafe blood transfusions
and unprotected sexual contact.The hepatitis B virus is not spread by contaminated food or water, and cannot be spread casually in the workplace. These are the major modes of transmission .In your case i would suggest you to get a repeat testing of your wife for Hepatitis B and if it is positive consult a hepatologist for further treatment.

If you have any further queries feel free to ask.
Wish you good health.
Take care.
Dr. Shruti

Hello,
thanks for using health care magic.

Hepatitis B is transmitted sexually and through direct contact with blood or blood products such as semen, plasma etc. According to WHO, the virus can stay out side the body for up to seven days and during this period transmission is possible if someone who has not been vaccinated against Hepatitis B to pick up the infection. Hepatitis B also can be transmitted by use of contaminated non sterilized metallic objects such as needles, blades or simply by coming in contact with contaminated blood.

Hepatitis B exist in both acute and chronic stages. In the chronic stage, a given marker of Hepatitis B known as Hepatitis B surface antigen remain positive for more than six months and it could remain positive for far beyond 6 months. This is the case for chronic carriers.
It is also possible to be infected with the virus and remain negative for Hepatitis B surface antigen in the initial stage of the infection.

So to partially answer your question,
Yes, there could be a fowl play,
Also, it could be that she came in contact with a contaminated blood
or she got infected through contaminated sharp objects like in the saloon,
or she got the infection long ago.

However, the above are based on the assumption that she is truly infected as you did not give the results of her test that said she was positive for Hepatitis B which could have been misinterpreted.

Let me know if you have more query.
Dr Achuo



chronic and carriers

Hi and welcome to HCM,thank you for your querry.
Why do you think that you and your kids should have hep B if your wife has it? there is a risk of transmission in pregnancy and sexual intercourse but this is just a risk. If you want to know how didi she get it you ll have to ask her. Many eople dont even know the cause of infection,it can be needle incident or blood contact anytime in our life. Of course it can be sexually transmissed too.
Wish you good health.

Hello and welcome to HCM,

Hepatitis can be acquired by many ways.
It can be acquired in one of the following ways:
1. Infected blood products
2. Viral hepatitis
3. Needle stick injury
4. From mother to child

You can get hepatitis B tested again to confirm.
If your wife tests positive for hepatitis B four months before delivery, it is likely that the infection will be transmitted to the baby.

Thanks and take care.
Dr Shailja P Wahal