I'm new to the hep b forum, as I am a hep c'er. My 18 year old daughter was diagnosed with hep c.. We just got her blood work back. All the counts were fine, ALT 23. But there was something I found very curious. She had Hep B antibodies, but no virus, meaning she cleared the virus herself. My GP said it was very common in children born and grown up in Asia. She was born in Indonesia and we left for Europe, when she was 8. We never knew she had it, as she had never had any jaundice. I read up a bit on this, and it seems that many children in that part of the world, get infected by playing with each other. The run around outside, fall, bleed, etc. Body contact is much more common in Indonesia. (I myself am hep b negative, with no antibodies)
My question is, do I need to have my other children (17 - 24) also tested for hep b? Nobody is ill with any symptoms. Is hep b similar to hep c, where one could be chronically infected without knowing it?
My gut feeling tells me, I should get them tested, but my GP (very good, kind and helpful) says it is not necessary, as if they had chronic hep b, they would be quite ill.
Just FYI, all the other kids tested hep c negative.
Thank you before hand for any info on this.
Marcia