Hep B- An Angry STD

Hepatitis B or HBV is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a virus. When a virus infects the body it attacks the cells and reproduces in them. It is usually transmitted through contact with body fluids like blood, semen, and vaginal secretions. It can be transfered by having sex with an infected person, sharing/injecting self with infected needles, and can be passed down from mother to baby. If a mother with HBV gives birth to a baby, the baby will most likely have congenital Chronic HBV It can take up to 60-150 days to show symptoms after contracting HBV. 

Some symptoms of this disease are similar to the flu such as: fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Other symptoms to watch out for that differ from the flu are abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements, joint pain, and jaundice (or yellowing of the skin and eyes). 

Chronic HBV is treated with anti-viral drugs and prevent the disease from worsening. Acute HBV does not have a treatment except the immune system. If it is caught then staying healthy, eating right and sleeping should clear it, like the common cold. If a case of chronic HBV is left untreated, it can lead to liver cancer and death. 

The 100% way to prevent any STD and pregnancy is abstinence. If you do choose to be sexually active though, the only way to protect yourself from HBV is to use a male or female condom to avoid contact with an infected person's body fluids. If there is a situation where blood is exposed (a way where one person can be exposed without having sex), make sure to wear rubber gloves and protect the any skin from touching the blood. There is a vaccination to protect the body against a few strands of HBV.

Here is a picture of what someone with Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes) looks like. This is a physical/appearance symptom and a major sign of HBV. 

Sources: 

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HBV/HBVfaq.htm

http://www.stressfreestdtesting.com/std-info-hepatitisb.php

Jaycee Myszka