Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a serious infectious disease which is caused by the hepatitis B virus. This virus penetrates the liver cells where it causes an inflammation. Depending on the seriousness of the infection, symptoms may range from severe to mild. There may also be no symptoms at all.
Hepatitis is sometimes referred to as jaundice. But jaundice is a symptom of an inflamed liver. It also occurs in inflammations of the liver that are not caused by hepatitis B.
Symptoms can appear two to six months after the infection. Only one in three people with hepatitis B exhibits any symptoms: a person may be fatigued, listless or run a fever.
Usually the disease passes with rest and the virus disappears. In 5 to 10% of the cases a person is a carrier. A carrier harbours the virus in the body and is therefore contagious.
A small proportion of carriers have a permanently inflamed liver, which can have serious consequences. Nowadays it is possible to treat chronic hepatitis B.
There is also a vaccination that immunizes against hepatitis B. A person whose partner is infected with hepatitis B might consider having this injection.
