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Hepatitis B sexual and non sexual exposure
I guess this question was deleted for some reason. I did read the terms and am sorry if this is considered a "dumb" low risk question. Or it was in the wrong forum. Sorry again.
I have a few questions about Hep B and HIV.
I was in the military stationed on a Base in East Asia in 1987. I served from 1986 to 1990.
I didn
I have a few questions about Hep B and HIV.
I was in the military stationed on a Base in East Asia in 1987. I served from 1986 to 1990.
I didn
Do you think I should get the antibody test. I guess what I'm asking is in general after you have someone get vacinated for Hep B do you get them checked for there anibody levels.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You are obsessing over nothing. Let it go. Do not post further questions/comments; see your own provider if you remain concerned.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
If someone (and including myself) have never been vaccinated for Hep B, should I get an antigen test prior to being vaccinated to see if I were exposed? Or should I just go through with the 3x of innoculations?
Thanks.
B.
Thanks.
B.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Everyone: As usual, monkeyflower provides accurate information and advice.
mjones02: Sounds like your friend's doc is expert in HBV; there is no reason not to rely on his/her advice. To say there is inconsistent information on the internet is sort of like saying the sky is blue: what else is new? The internet is the wrong place to look for answers about fairly complex issues like you describe on behalf of your friend.
Brian123: Overall, sex is the most common route of transmission of HBV, not blood exposure. And I agree with monkeyflower that your attitude toward hepatitis B is much too cavalier. HBV immunization was developed in the 1970s and has been widely employed since the early 1980s. Although sexual acquisition of HBV in heterosexuals in industrialized countries is not all that frequent, it isn't rare either; and probably at least 1 in 1000 infections results in death (eventually) from liver cancer or cirrhosis. Most users of this forum would go absolutely bonkers over a 1 in 1000 risk of getting HIV. (Would you play Russian roulette with a magical pistol that had 1000 chambers?) I don't know the exact statistics for the risk of death from HBV, but you get the idea. Every sexually active person should be vaccinated against HBV.
HHH, MD
mjones02: Sounds like your friend's doc is expert in HBV; there is no reason not to rely on his/her advice. To say there is inconsistent information on the internet is sort of like saying the sky is blue: what else is new? The internet is the wrong place to look for answers about fairly complex issues like you describe on behalf of your friend.
Brian123: Overall, sex is the most common route of transmission of HBV, not blood exposure. And I agree with monkeyflower that your attitude toward hepatitis B is much too cavalier. HBV immunization was developed in the 1970s and has been widely employed since the early 1980s. Although sexual acquisition of HBV in heterosexuals in industrialized countries is not all that frequent, it isn't rare either; and probably at least 1 in 1000 infections results in death (eventually) from liver cancer or cirrhosis. Most users of this forum would go absolutely bonkers over a 1 in 1000 risk of getting HIV. (Would you play Russian roulette with a magical pistol that had 1000 chambers?) I don't know the exact statistics for the risk of death from HBV, but you get the idea. Every sexually active person should be vaccinated against HBV.
HHH, MD
Thanks monkey ( :
I hope the doc agrees!
I hope the doc agrees!
So you got all three vaccinations? Jeez, by all means let it go already and move on with your life. You've been way, way more worried than you ever needed to be.
I paid for the antigen test. It was at a different place than where they gave me the vaccine.
monkeyflower, you seem to know quite a bit about Hep B. I have a friend that is hep B+, but the e-antigen is negative and she has low viral load. She was told by her doc that she's a "healthy carrier" and that she has a very low risk, if any, of developing liver damage and to not worry about it. There's a lot of info on the internet about this but some of it is inconsistent. Do you agree with the doc's comments?
Thanks!!!
Thanks!!!
More info on me if needed. I
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your message was deleted from the HIV forum; other STD issue belong here, as stated clearly on the HIV forum home page.
It is good for all sexually active people to be immunized against hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, the actual risk of infection is low in most heterosexual populations in the US. You seem overly and inappropriately anxious about it. Since you believe you might have been vaccinated against HBV in the 1980s, you should have had a blood test before you started on the new vaccine series; it would have told whether you had previously been infected or vaccinated. But it won't do any harm to be vaccinated again even if you are already immune. To your specific questions:
1) You should not be concerned at all.
2) Nonsexual contact (sharing eating and drinking utensils etc) does not carry risk of catching HBV.
3) I do not know US military vaccination policies in the 1980s, but my guess is that HBV immunization was routine by that time.
Mellow out about HBV. Almost certainly it isn't an issue for you.
HHH, MD
It is good for all sexually active people to be immunized against hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, the actual risk of infection is low in most heterosexual populations in the US. You seem overly and inappropriately anxious about it. Since you believe you might have been vaccinated against HBV in the 1980s, you should have had a blood test before you started on the new vaccine series; it would have told whether you had previously been infected or vaccinated. But it won't do any harm to be vaccinated again even if you are already immune. To your specific questions:
1) You should not be concerned at all.
2) Nonsexual contact (sharing eating and drinking utensils etc) does not carry risk of catching HBV.
3) I do not know US military vaccination policies in the 1980s, but my guess is that HBV immunization was routine by that time.
Mellow out about HBV. Almost certainly it isn't an issue for you.
HHH, MD
My atigen test for Heb B came back negative. The results were given to me, on the day of my last of three vaccinations for Hep B. Do I need to get checked for proper antibodies or can I
As far as I know...the hepatitis B vaccination did nto come to light until the mid-90's.
I know that when I went to college in the early 90's it was not an immunization requirement...and as fas as I know...it did not exist.
As of today, persons in colleges/universities, public schools, etc. need to be vaccinated in order to attend places of education. So, as far as I know, you would not have been vaccinated for it in the 1980's.
Hep B, as far as I am concerned, is not a significant concern. The body does create its own natural defense if exposed to the virus 95% of the time. Nonetheless there is the series of 3 shots over a course of a few months that one can take.
Hepatitis, from what I do understand, and someone correct me if I am wrong, is NOT normally transmitted sexually.
Hep B/C is a growing concern for IV drug users since it is blood-to-blood contact.
Am I right? someone tell me otherwise.
Thanks.
B.
I know that when I went to college in the early 90's it was not an immunization requirement...and as fas as I know...it did not exist.
As of today, persons in colleges/universities, public schools, etc. need to be vaccinated in order to attend places of education. So, as far as I know, you would not have been vaccinated for it in the 1980's.
Hep B, as far as I am concerned, is not a significant concern. The body does create its own natural defense if exposed to the virus 95% of the time. Nonetheless there is the series of 3 shots over a course of a few months that one can take.
Hepatitis, from what I do understand, and someone correct me if I am wrong, is NOT normally transmitted sexually.
Hep B/C is a growing concern for IV drug users since it is blood-to-blood contact.
Am I right? someone tell me otherwise.
Thanks.
B.
HBV is indeed a STD. The vaccine has been around since the early-mid 80s. I don't know if the military routinely vaccinated people then, though. I can certainly assure you that you won't contract HBV through sharing a drinking glass or any kind of casual contact like that. It's transmitted through blood and vaginal fluids/semen. Regardless, I personally wouldn't worry about the results of the test. It's good that you're getting tested, but it's not something that should keep you up at night worrying.
Brian: It's true that HBV isn't a concern for most people. I contracted it, resolved it, and I'm fine. But that's not true for everyone, so please don't be cavalier about it. Some people do develop chronic infections, like my husband, who has fairly advanced liver disease as a result. And you know, your liver is pretty freaking important. You can't live without it.
My soapbox: In my opinion, every sexually active person should be vaccinated. Now it's routine (for obvious good reason), but there are a lot of people who've been missed. If you haven't been vaccinated, ask your doctor what s/he thinks. Why risk contracting it, when it's so preventable?
Brian: It's true that HBV isn't a concern for most people. I contracted it, resolved it, and I'm fine. But that's not true for everyone, so please don't be cavalier about it. Some people do develop chronic infections, like my husband, who has fairly advanced liver disease as a result. And you know, your liver is pretty freaking important. You can't live without it.
My soapbox: In my opinion, every sexually active person should be vaccinated. Now it's routine (for obvious good reason), but there are a lot of people who've been missed. If you haven't been vaccinated, ask your doctor what s/he thinks. Why risk contracting it, when it's so preventable?
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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