What is the difference between hepatitis B carrier and chronic hepatitis B?

What is the difference between hepatitis B carrier and chronic hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B carriers are people living with asymptomatic chronic hepatitis B. Although they do not experience any symptoms, they can still pass the infection to others. They are also at risk of developing complications, such as liver damage.

Is hepatitis B carrier a chronic disease?

If you are not able to clear the infection within six months or longer, you have chronic hepatitis B. (Chronic means long-lasting.) It is chronic hepatitis B that leads to inflammation and the serious, and possibly fatal, illnesses of cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.

What happens if you are a hepatitis B carrier?

These “acute” cases don’t always need treatment. But it can become chronic. If that happens, it can cause scarring of the organ, liver failure, and cancer, and it even can be life-threatening. It’s spread when people come in contact with the blood, open sores, or body fluids of someone who has the hepatitis B virus.

Can hepatitis B carrier be cured totally?

There’s no cure for hepatitis B. The good news is it usually goes away by itself in 4 to 8 weeks. More than 9 out of 10 adults who get hepatitis B totally recover. However, about 1 in 20 people who get hepatitis B as adults become “carriers,” which means they have a chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis B infection.

Will I always test positive for hepatitis B?

Most adults who acquire HBV clear the virus within a few months, and their hepatitis B surface antigen test result will be negative after that time. Some people remain infected and continue to test positive for hepatitis B surface antigen.

What does inactive carrier of hepatitis B mean?

A significant portion of chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infected patients is in the inactive carrier state, characterized by normal transaminase levels, little viral replication and minimal liver necroinflammatory activity.

How do you know if hepatitis B is acute or chronic?

If you test positive for HBsAg for longer than six months, it means you have a chronic hepatitis B infection. But, if you no longer test positive (or “reactive”) for HBsAg after six months and you develop hepatitis B surface antibodies (HBsAb), then you have cleared hepatitis B after an “acute” infection.

Can a hepatitis B carrier get vaccinated?

HBV carriers and those having antibody from previous infection need not be vaccinated, but serologic screening to detect such individuals before vaccination may or may not be cost effective.

Can I still get hepatitis B even if I was vaccinated?

Can I get hepatitis B from being vaccinated? No. The hepatitis B vaccine does not contain any live virus and can’t cause hepatitis B.

How long can a hepatitis B carrier live?

The estimated carrier life expectancy is 71.8 years, as compared to 76.2 years among noncarriers (Figure ​ 5). These results are consistent with other estimates, which indicate that 15% to 40% of HBV carriers die of liver complications.

Do hepatitis B carriers work healthcare?

Unless you have severe liver disease, hepatitis B does not impair your ability to be a teacher, nurse, doctor or home health aide. If your hepatitis B status is made known as a result of a blood test or exam, that information should go no farther than the human resources department.

Can hepatitis B carrier be a nurse?