Sage-Tips

How long can you live with chronic hepatitis B?

The estimated carrier life expectancy is 71.8 years, as compared to 76.2 years among noncarriers (Figure ​ 5). These results are consistent with other estimates, which indicate that 15\% to 40\% of HBV carriers die of liver complications.

Is chronic hepatitis B serious?

Chronic hepatitis B can develop into a serious disease resulting in long-term health problems, including liver damage, liver failure, liver cancer, and even death. There were 1,649 deaths related to hepatitis B virus reported to CDC in 2018, but this is an underestimate.

Can someone with hepatitis B have a baby?

Babies born to a mother with hepatitis B have a greater than 90\% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B if they are not properly treated at birth. It is very important that pregnant women know their hepatitis B status in order to prevent passing the virus on to their newborn baby during delivery.

Can a baby get hepatitis B from the father?

Transmission of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) from mother to infant is the predominant route in most high prevalence areas such as China. However, father-to-child transmission also plays an important role in the prevalence of hepatitis B.

Can you get married if you have hepatitis B?

To put it simply, yes, a person living with hepatitis B can get married. In fact, a healthy relationship can be a source of love and support for those who may feel alone in their diagnosis. Transmission of hepatitis B can be prevented in your partner; it’s a vaccine preventable disease!

What if my partner tests negative for hepatitis B but not infected?

Bottom line, if one of you have been diagnosed and the other is not infected, it is unusual but not uncommon. Get tested using the 3-panel blood test (HBsAg, HBsAb, and HBcAb) and immediately vaccinated if the uninfected partner tests negative for the hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb).

Is hepatitis B a serious illness?

Hepatitis B can be a serious illness, and the virus can be spread from an infected person to other family and household members, caregivers, and sexual partners.

How long does it take to get Hepatitis B?

This is a hardy virus that can exist on almost any surface for up to one month. You can get infected through contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids. The hepatitis B virus can be spread in the following ways: living in a household with a person with chronic (life-long) HBV infection