Patient information and directions. Communicable Disease Prevention leaflet issued by the Swedish Society for Communicable Disease Prevention and Control.
What is Hepatitis B?
You have been infected with the hepatitis B virus, which infects the liver. Hepatitis B is found all over the world and is very common in some countries. About half of all adults who become infected have no symptoms of disease. If symptoms do occur, the most common ones in the acute phase are nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, diffuse abdominal pain, body pains and fever. Itching can also occur, and the skin and whites of the eyes can become yellow. In most cases, the disease clears up by itself after a few months in infected adults. If the person infected is a child, there is a greater risk that the infection will become long-term (chronic).
Modes of transmission
Hepatitis B is transmitted when a person gets infected blood on their mucous membranes or injured skin, which can take place during close contact in the family. Family members/close friends who are thought to need a vaccination will be offered one free of charge.
Infected mothers can infect their children during delivery, or – rarely – during pregnancy. The infection is also sexually transmissible. Sharing injecting devices with a person infected with hepatitis B can transfer infection.
Pregnancy and delivery
A mother carrying the infection can infect her child during delivery. At the first visit to the antenatal clinic (mödravårdscentralen), the mother-to-be must inform the midwife that she is carrying the infection. The child will be vaccinated directly after delivery and will be given further vaccinations during its first year of life to prevent hepatitis B infection.
Hygiene advice
Take care to bandage wounds, even very small ones. If someone helps you, this person is to use plastic gloves. Pack bloodstained materials with care before throwing them away. Bloodstains on e.g. floors are to be wiped with chlorine-based bleach or similar disinfectant.
Directions
• You must attend the appointments and tests that the doctor in charge of your treatment thinks are necessary.
• If you seek medical or dental care, you must let them know that your blood is infectious.
• If anyone gets your blood in their eyes, nose or mouth, rinse with water. Skin that has been exposed to blood can be disinfected using e.g. chlorhexidine in alcohol. You must tell the person that your blood is infected with hepatitis B and that they must immediately get in touch with a health centre or infectious disease clinic for a decision on vaccination.
• Do not share personal items like razor blades, electric razors, toothbrushes and so on.
• If you inject drugs, you must have your own needles and syringes and not allow others to use them. You may not use the same mixing cup, and injecting devices must be stored so that they do not risk infecting others.
• You should not get a tattoo, have your ears pierced or have any other treatment that involves the use of sharp tools and which can cause bleeding. If you want to do so anyway, you must say that you have hepatitis B.
• Before having sexual intercourse, you are obliged to tell your prospective sexual partner that you have hepatitis B. This applies to sexual activity in which the penis enters the vagina, rectum or mouth, or other sexual activity that involves a risk of spreading infection.
•Use a condom to protect against infection if your partner is not immune (has had the disease or been vaccinated against hepatitis B). The condom is to be kept on throughout intercourse.
• Tell your treating doctor if you have a partner or family member who might need a vaccination against hepatitis B.
• You may not give blood or donate sperm, organs or tissue for transplant.
The disease with which you are infected is a hazard to public health under the Swedish Communicable Diseases Act (Smittskyddslagen). You are therefore obliged to follow the directions given by your doctor. If you request, the County Medical Officer (Smittskyddsläkaren) must reconsider the directions.