liver and gallbladder disorders
Hepatitis B, Acute
Prevention of Acute Hepatitis B
High-risk behavior, such as sharing needles to inject drugs and having multiple sex partners, should be avoided. All blood donors are tested for hepatitis B to prevent the spread of hepatitis B virus through transfusions. Also, even though the chance of getting hepatitis from transfusions is remote, doctors use transfusions only when there is no alternative. These measures have dramatically decreased the risk of getting hepatitis from a blood transfusion. In the United States, Hepatitis B Vaccine is recommended for All people aged 18 and younger (starting at birth—see figure Childhood Vaccination Schedules ) Any adult who wishes protection from hepatitis B All unvaccinated adults whose risk of getting hepatitis B is increased, including pregnant women People with chronic liver disease If family members and close contacts of people with chronic hepatitis B have not been vaccinated, they should be vaccinated with the hepatitis B vaccine. If the level of hepatitis B virus (viral load) is high in pregnant women, they are often given antiviral drugs during the last trimester of pregnancy to prevent transmission of the virus from mother to child. People who are not vaccinated and have been exposed to hepatitis B, including infants born to mothers with hepatitis B, are givenhepatitis B immune globulin(by injection into a muscle) and the vaccine. This combination prevents chronic hepatitis B in 75%, or it makes the disease less severe.Hepatitis B immune globulincontains antibodies obtained from the blood of people who have high levels of antibodies to hepatitis. If a pregnant woman has high levels of the virus, the risk of transmission to the child may be decreased by treating the woman with tenofovir, an antiviral drug, during the third trimester. If people come in contact with the blood of someone who has hepatitis B, they are givenhepatitis B immune globulinby injection. If they have not been vaccinated against hepatitis B, they are also vaccinated. If they have been vaccinated, blood tests are done to determine whether they are still protected. If they are not, they are vaccinated. 