Ask your medical professional

Your medical professional and hepatitis B

Anyone who has been exposed to hepatitis B through blood and body fluids can become infected with the virus.1 The only way to know for sure is to see your medical professional. Locate a hepatitis B testing centre in your area and get a hepatitis B blood test. This hepatitis hepatitis B blood test will determine if you have the virus and will give your medical professional important information about how the virus is affecting your health.

Having more information about the virus and how it can affect you is an important first step in getting the proper hepatitis B treatment.

Here are some questions that you should ask your medical professional:

  • Q.Do I have acute or chronic hepatitis B?
  • Q.What is the difference between acute and chronic hepatitis B?
  • Q.How will hepatitis B affect my health?
  • Q.Why is it important to know how much virus is in my blood?
  • Q.Is there a cure for hepatitis B?
  • Q.Have I suffered any liver damage? What does this mean?
  • Q.What is my viral load?
  • Q.Should I tell my family and friends to get tested?
  • Q.Is it possible that I have given the infection to other people?
  • Q.Should I take medication for hepatitis B? If so, what kind of medication is the best hepatitis B treatment for me?
  • Q.Does the medication have side effects?
  • Q.How long will I have to take the medication?
  • Q.Can I take this prescribed hepatitis B medication with my current medications?
  • Q.How will I know if the hepatitis B medication is working?
  • Q.How often should I visit my medical professional?

You may also print a copy of the hepatitis B questions PDF (12 KB) to take with you to your medical professional’s appointment.

References

1 World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/immunization/topics/hepatitis_b/en/index1.html, accessed 27 July 2007