AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is caused by infection with a virus called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This virus is passed from one person to another through infected blood and body fluids through unprotected sex and sharing needles.
Acute Hepatitis B: 90% of people with hepatitis B will have acute infection. Nearly all will recover on their own without lasting health problems.1
Anti-virals: These medications are one of the available treatments for chronic hepatitis B. These medications minimise the hepatitis B virus from replicating or making copies of itself.
Body Fluids: These are fluids that can be passed from one person to another through sex or by sharing needles or personal items. Body fluids include semen, vaginal fluids and saliva.
Chronic Hepatitis B: Some 10% of people who become infected with the hepatitis B virus are chronically infected.2 This means they may have the virus for life. Left untreated, chronic hepatitis B can develop into a serious liver disease.
Cirrhosis: Cirrhosis of the liver is characterised by permanent and severe scarring of the liver caused by chronic liver inflammation. Cirrhosis is also the main cause of primary liver cancer.
Fibrosis: Fibrosis occurs when healthy liver cells are damaged by the hepatitis B virus, which are replaced by mild to moderate scar tissue, called fibrous tissue. The liver is still able to carry out all normal functions and people may experience little to no symptoms.
Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. It is generally spread by coming into contact with the faeces of an infected person. This happens because of poor sanitary habits such as not washing your hands after going to the bathroom.
Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus and is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. It is passed from an infected person to another through blood and body fluids.
Hepatitis B Blood Test: Your medical professional will take a small amount of your blood to determine if you have the hepatitis B virus.
Hepatitis B Vaccine: There are vaccines to prevent hepatitis B. They are not always available to everyone in every country. They cannot help if you have already been infected with the virus.
Hepatitis C: Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus. It is generally spread through blood transfusions. In most countries, donated blood is now checked for the virus before it is given to someone.
Hepatitis D: Hepatitis D is caused by the hepatitis D virus. The hepatitis D virus needs the hepatitis B virus to survive. Sometimes people with hepatitis B also get hepatitis D because both are passed from one person to the other through blood and body fluids.
Hepatitis E: Hepatitis E is caused by the hepatitis E virus. Similar to the hepatitis A virus, it is spread by coming into contact with the faeces of an infected person.
Hepatitis G: Not a lot is known about the hepatitis G virus or even if it causes illness. It may be transmitted through contaminated blood in blood transfusions.
Hepatocytes: Cells in the liver
HIV: HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that causes AIDS. It is passed from one person to the other through infected blood and body fluids.
Immune System: The body’s immune system is found throughout the body in cells and organs. The immune system is the body’s defense system and it fights infections.
Inflammation: When the liver first becomes infected with hepatitis B, mild to moderate swelling will occur. Liver inflammation can also lead to more serious conditions such as fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Interferons: Interferons are a kind of drug treatment used to treat chronic hepatitis B. They work by boosting the body’s immune system to fight the hepatitis B virus.
Intravenously: Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is giving medications or fluids to people directly into a vein.
Liver: The liver is the largest and one of the most important organs in the body. The liver stores fats, sugars, vitamins and other nutrients that our body needs to keep going. It also helps the body get rid of toxins and infections.
Liver Cancer: Malignant tumours that form on the liver. Hepatitis B is responsible for 80% of all primary liver cancer worldwide.
Liver Disease: This term applies to many diseases and disorders that cause the liver to function improperly or cease functioning.
Liver Transplant: A liver transplant occurs when a diseased liver is replaced by a healthy one obtained from an organ donor.
Medications for Hepatitis B: For people with chronic hepatitis B, there are two kinds of medications: anti-virals and interferons. Anti-virals work by stopping the virus from replicating or making copies of itself. Interferons work by helping the body’s immune system fight infection.
Resistance: Resistance occurs when a medication stops working as a result of the virus developing an immunity to the medication.
Symptoms of Hepatitis B: Symptoms may include tiredness, nausea, stomach pain and weight loss. They also can include not feeling hungry or feeling pain in the joints. In some people, the skin and eyes may become yellow. A person’s urine may be dark coloured and the stools or bowel movement may be whitish. Only about 30% of people with hepatitis B have any symptoms.3
Toxins: These are poisons that the body produces. Toxins can cause disease.
Unprotected Sex: Having unprotected sex is having sex without a condom. Condoms can help stop the spread of infection from one person to another.
Viral Load: Viral load is the amount of virus in the blood. A lesser amount of virus means there is less risk for serious liver disease.
Virus: A virus is an infectious agent too small to see. It replicates or makes copies of itself inside the body’s cells. This causes disease.
1 Hepatitis B Foundation. General Information. Available at http://www.hepb.org/patients/general_information.htm. Accessed May 2011.
2 Hepatitis B Foundation. Living with Hepatitis B FAQs. Available at http://www.hepb.org/patients/living_with_hepatitis_b.htm. Accessed May 2011.
3 Hepatitis B Foundation. About Hepatitis B Symptoms. Available at http://www.hepb.org/hepb/symptoms.htm. Accessed May 2011.
