Does low viral load Hep B mean i'm less infectious?

[Emilia30]

Hi there,

I have a question regarding viral load level vs risk of infecting others. I’ve read that to pass Hep B to others a tiny amount of blood is required (is it 0,0004ml?) so much less that in HIV infected and also that even dried blood has some virus and can leave outside for couple of weeks.

So if you have a small viral load like 320 IU/mL does it them mean more blood would be necessary to pass the virus on? And if you have viral load in millions for example then you most likely to infect others?

And what is LOW viral load anyway?

My viral load has always been below 500 IU/ml normally around 300 and I wonder how likely it is that I can pass the virus to others?

[kaatot]

If HBV DNA viral load is < 1000 iu/ml and HBeAg is negative, then the risk of transmitting HBV is very very less. But this is true only in case of transmission through unprotected sex, all forms of body fluids etc. Because, blood is easiest of all ways for transmitting HBV. However, there should be blood to blood contacts. By touching infected blood, one can't get HBV. If you happen to touch infected blood, then it is better to wash properly. Otherwise, we can have a normal life like others. These days, almost all do get vaccinated. So, risk is further less. I have seen many cases of non-transmitting HBV through unprotected sex. I have not seen yet any transmission cases through saliva & other forms of body fluids. So, let's not overly worried about HBV and try to ensure the following -

1. Get all near to you vaccinated asap
2. Always ensure that we maintain HBV DNA viral load < 1000 iu/ml
3. Maintain hygienic atmosphere
4. Cover up your wounds, cuts etc.  
5. Avoid drinking liquor, wine etc. & smoking cigars
6. Maintain vitamin levels as desired for a healthy man

Last but the not least, just think too much and live your life.
Just remember, we come across many viruses in our life but it is our immunity that fights with them and kills them. So, always, we must ensure that we must keep maintaining our immunity strong. God bless all of us with some medicine that cures HBV.

[Bm2016]

I have my own set of plates and bowl, cup, silver utensil, I dine on my own even rest of the family are all sitting on the dinning table to avoid possible spreading the virus, it has became a habit that even though I am functionally cured from hbv, I still tend to eat aside.

[Liverpatient]

Hi Bm2016, I've read on the internet that hbv is found in all bodily fluids; blood, urine, saliva, semen, vaginal fluids, etc. But when they write about modes of transmission they only mention through blood, and through sextual contact. What i don't understand is if the virus is found in fluids such as saliva, then it should also be possible to transmit it through sharing cups, and forks, spoons and knives with others as well. But they say it is not transmitted through these tools, and through kissing, surpring indeed.

[Emilia30]

I think that's a bit much. Taking into consideration all of my family is vaccinated and reacted well to the vaccine I see no need to have separate dining set- I would feel a bit isolated. I'm concerned about spreading it but I don't want to feel like a walking virus...

[Liverpatient]

Yes, keep your family vaccinated and protected. That is the least and most effecitve way of keeping hbv at bay. Having separate kitchen utensils and dinning sets it too much overdoing it, i agree.

[Liverpatient]

*least expensive

[Airquake]

Live you life, do what you normally do and don't think too much about it.

[Airquake]

I feel like there are a ton of diseases/bacteria/viruses worse than hep b that can be transmitted the same way but we don't talk about it. To put things into perspective, a 23 year woman was admitted to a hospital after her vacation. To keep the story short, she tried local delicacy, squirrel's brain. She died after 3 months as there is no treatment and bacteria could not be killed by any known form of sterilization. So do I worry about hep b? Not so much.

Bigmoviebuff, I would have to say at least 10 years or even 20 but I can be totally wrong. I cannot pinpoint exact time when I was infected but my doc said I have it for a really long time.

[Emilia30]

I guess you are right, but the fact that I can be 'responsible' for passing it on bothers me the most. I'm not sure how much precaution I need to take taking into consideration my current status with being   HBsAg-positive, HBeAg-negative, with dna of 320 IU/ml?

[Liverpatient]

Hi Emila30, i understand what you are going through, because i also have similar worries regarding accidentally passing this horrible virus to others who may come in contact with me. I don't know how i got it, and hence i'm afraid to give it to someone else. particularly children who can't fight it off naturally. Most of the adults, 95% of them, could clear this virus naturally within six months after they get infected, so a bit comforting fact there. So i would recommend you to encourage all those in daily contact with you, your family members, to get vaccinated against hbv, while following normal hygiene in your daily contacts with other people.
Having this disease is not only tough healthwise, but also it is burdensome when one has always to be careful not to pass it to others, as well as making it hard to cope socially and economically for many people.
I pray a cure will come soon because i'm tired of living with this debilitating disease as far as i'm concerned.
Good luck, and God bless

[Airquake]

Not sure where are you going with this question. My DNA is lower than yours and I still consider myself infectious. We are inactive carriers but there is still a risk. It's not only in blood, it's also in bodily fluids. Although the concentration may be lower, it's still there. My gastro said getting somebody infected is extremely low. Nobody can tell you what may or may not happen in your situation. In my situation, I've had it for years, my ex-wife never contracted it, subsequent girlfriend did not get infected and both of them were not vaccinated. With that said, be careful but don't get paranoid about it. I hope that helps and I'm not a doctor.

[bigmoviebuff]

can you elaborate? so you had uprotected sex for long periods and your ex-wife and gf did not get nfected?

[Emilia30]

Of course I consider myself infectious, my question was more about how DNA levels are responsible for passing it on. Whether I'm highly infectious. As if it's only tiny tiny blood/body fluids can pass it on how careful I need to be? If for example I had a small cut with some blood in the morning and cleaned my hands since and touched somebody eye few hours later is it possible I could pass it on like that? The cut wasn't on the hand I touched that persons eye.

[Emilia30]

And like in your case, I found out about my hep b in my pregnancy, my husband has not been vaccinated at that point and never contaminated it (now vaccinated) my son when was born was not given immunoglobulin as in UK if mother is low DNA the only give vaccination. My son has high antibodies and his panes came back as negative so never got infected either.

[Emilia30]

Anybody?

[Emilia30]

Just to add I'm a chronic carrier, HBsAg-positive, HBeAg-negative.

[Kazfiz]

To answer the question in short... Lower viral load DOES mean less infectious..  ..