Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is an inflammation of the liver resulting from a viral infection.
How is it transmitted?
Hepatitis B is transmitted through several bodily fluids: blood, semen, saliva, and vaginal secretions.
It can also be transmitted through sharing equipment for preparing, injecting, or inhaling drugs or through the use of nonsterile tattooing and piercing equipment. Transmission can also occur during pregnancy and childbirth.
At the Pharmacie du Village, sterile injection equipment kits are offered free of charge to anyone who requests them.
What are the symptoms?
Hepatitis B may have no symptoms, or symptoms may appear after several months:
If left untreated, hepatitis B usually clears up on its own after 6 months, but the virus may linger in the body. In the second case, the infected person then becomes a “chronic carrier” and risks transmitting it to their partners.
When a person is a chronic carrier of hepatitis B, their risk of developing serious liver diseases, such as cirrhosis and cancer, increases.
Is it treatable?
Antiviral treatments can stop the hepatitis B virus from replicating and delay its progression to a chronic infection, but these treatments are not always effective.
Vaccination against hepatitis B (covered by RAMQ under certain conditions) is therefore recommended.
Vaccination against hepatitis B is part of the Quebec immunization program and is offered to all students.
The information on this website is presented for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide complete information on the subjects covered or to replace the advice of a healthcare professional. This information does not constitute medical consultations, diagnoses, or opinions, and should therefore not be interpreted as such. Please consult your healthcare professional if you have any questions about your medical condition, medications, or treatment.
