Inactive Hep b transmission

[andyblaze]

I was diagnosed as an inactive hep b carrier and no treatment was suggested . I have never had any symptoms and have all been very healthy . What are the chances of transmitting this while having protected sex and the condom breaks

Thanks !

[StephenCastlecrag]

It is not quite true to say that loss of antibodies indicates loss of immunity. There is a well known concept called immune memory. The fact that antibodies were quickly produced after a single booster and in such high number is a proof of this concept. Of course, for persons who are at risk of exposure to HBV, such as doctors and nurses, a booster is prudent. Some doctors would say you are protected after producing HBsAb > 10 iu/L after vaccination and this protection is good for at least 30 years as indicated by a recent research study.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/857886

[Liverpatient]

Thanks for sharing your story with us; it was very wise of you to re-vaccinate your family and you were quite lucky because they already had lost their immunity. It is a pity that most GP's even today do not have enough knowledge about hbv. I was diagnosed with hbv last spring; my doctor never asked me if I had a sexual partner , and hence never warned me about transmission modes of hbv. I had to do my own research and get more information from the internet on my own.

[Liverpatient]

To andyblaze,
As long as you are HbsAg positive, you are infectious to others. Make sure your sexual partner is vaccinated and gained immunity against hbv before any unprotected sexual contact.

[Aduiski]

Unless your hbsag is clearly bellow 1000 IU (which together with ALT bellow 30 for males and bellow 19 for females would most likely indicate that you are indeed inactive hepatitis carrier), you should follow your ALT and DNA every 6 months to make sure you are indeed not active....


You should not have unprotected sex as viral load tends to go up and down for some of hep b positive people...so it might be the case when you have sex that your viral load is up and you become more infectious to other person.
Instead you should vaccinate the other person....

[Ram1982]

I was told that I m Inactive carrier after diagnosis, I had undetectable viral DNA. I didn't transmit it to my wife after 3.5 years of marriage also. I have vaccinated to her now and she got antibodies now.

I am not sure the same holds good for all inac tive carriers.

[Liverpatient]

Could it be that your wife was infected, but cleared the infection just like 90-95% of adults do; most of them even not noticing any symptoms?

[twinboys1girl4me]

Similar to Ram.  I know my husband was not infected even though we were together 4 years prior to his vaccines.  All HBV tests, including core, were negative, so no infection at all.  He now has positive antibodies.  Like Ram, DNA was low whole time which is believed to be the reason for not transmitting, thankfully.

[Liverpatient]

I can't comprehend why anyone would expose someone else to hbv, let alone their loved ones; when they know they've the virus. Anyway your partner is lucky not to have contracted this disease. I'm saying this supposing you knew about your hbv infection.
As hbv patients let's make it our duty to spread the information regading the transmission and prevention of hbv. This is not a disease that has to be taken lightly.

[twinboys1girl4me]

Not that I need to explain myself to you but way back when I found doubt I had HBV either doctors were not educated in HBV or I saw an uneducated doctor.  The doctor said I was a healthy carrier and not to worry, so that is what I did.  There was not Internet or any way to educate myself further in my own like there is now.  Your comment is a little accusatory and not appreciated, as of course I would have done everything possible to protect my husband had I known at that time.  We've will be married for 20 years this June so I wouldn't have subjected himself to this if I had full knowledge like I do now.

[Liverpatient]

Sorry for misunderstanding your message; as you saw I tried my best to be on safe side by writing "I'm saying this supposing you knew about your hbv infection". I thought you knew about the modes of transmission of hbv when you first knew about your infection; but I could have formulated my comment in a better way. So sorry again, please don't take it personal.

[twinboys1girl4me]

I aprreciate that, thank you.  I found out when I was 16 (late 1980's) and I'm now 42....so a long time ago.  I honestly do not remember much information as I was only 16 and remember most of the talking was between my mom and doctor.  I just remember being told I was a healthy carrier (old saying that gives false hope as we know now) and don't worry, so as a 16 year old that is what I did.  Why would I think any different, as I heard this from a doctor, I was 16, and never felt sick? I went on with life and never thought of it. It wasn't until me and my husband were undergoing fertility treatments in my early 20's that this history came about, which right away that doctor had me see a specialist and had my husband tested/vaccinated.  This was a blessing in hindsight and very thankful he is fine, and my kids got protected right away with HBIG/vaccination.  I'm much older and wiser now and very careful with my HBV.  Last year I actually on my own had my kids and husband retested to make sure they all still had antibodies after a decade or more after vaccination.  They all lost antibodies and I was so worried.  The doctors didn't know what to do, so I researched and had them all get a booster.  A month later my one son and husband were over 250 iu/ml for antibodies and my other son and daughter were over 1000 iu/ml.  So, I care very much, always have, and never would purposely put anyone in danger.

[Mario30]

Frugally infectious. 50%