Which Viral Sti Can Lead to Liver Failure in Its Advanced Form?

HIV and Hepatitis B

Final Reviewed: August 24, 2021

Central Points

• Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
• HBV is spread through contact with the blood, semen, or other body fluid of a person who has HBV. Amid adults in the U.s., HBV is spread mainly through sexual contact.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 10% of people with HIV in the United states too have HBV. Infection with both HIV and HBV is called HIV/HBV coinfection.
• People with HIV/HBV coinfection should be treated for both infections.

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The abbreviation HBV tin stand for either the virus or the infection it causes.

HBV can be a short-term (acute) or a long-term (chronic) illness:

• Astute HBV occurs within 6 months after a person is exposed to HBV. In some people, acute HBV tin can lead to chronic HBV.
• Chronic HBV is a lifelong disease. Without handling, chronic HBV can cause liver cancer or liver damage that leads to liver failure.

HBV is a contagious infection that can spread from person to person.

How does HBV spread from person to person?

HBV is spread through contact with the blood, semen, or other body fluid of a person who has HBV. Amongst adults in the Us, HBV is spread mainly through sexual contact.

HBV can besides spread from person to person in the post-obit ways:

• Past sharing needles or other injection drug equipment (works) with someone who has HBV
• Past sharing razors, toothbrushes, or similar personal items with someone who has HBV
• From contact with the blood or open sores of a person who has HBV
• From an adventitious prick or cut from an HBV-contaminated needle or other sharp object
• From a mother who has HBV to her child during childbirth

What is the connection between HIV and HBV?

Both HIV and HBV spread from person to person in semen, blood, or other torso fluids. For this reason, the master risk factors for HIV and HBV are the aforementioned: having sex without a condom and injection drug utilize.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 10% of people with HIV in the The states also have HBV. Infection with both HIV and HBV is chosen HIV/HBV coinfection.

Chronic HBV advances faster to cirrhosis, cease-stage liver affliction, and liver cancer in people with HIV/HBV coinfection than in people with merely HBV infection. But chronic HBV does non announced to cause HIV to advance faster in people with HIV/HBV coinfection.

Can HBV infection exist prevented?

Yep. The all-time way to forestall HBV is to go the hepatitis B vaccine.

CDC recommends that people with HIV and people who are at risk for HIV become the HBV vaccine (or the combined hepatitis A virus/HBV vaccine). The housemates and sexual partners of people with HBV should get the HBV vaccine, too.

People, including people with HIV, can also have the following steps to reduce their risk of HBV infection:

• Use condoms during sex to reduce the take a chance of HBV infection and infection with other sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea and syphilis.
• Do not inject drugs. Merely if y'all do, exercise not share needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment.
• Do not share toothbrushes, razors, or other personal items that may come in contact with another person's blood.
• If you get a tattoo or trunk piercing, make certain the instruments used are sterile.

Should people with HIV get tested for HBV?

CDC recommends that all people with HIV get tested for HBV. Testing tin can detect HBV even when a person has no symptoms of the infection.

In that location are several HBV blood tests. Results of different tests show different things. For example, a positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) examination result shows that a person has acute or chronic HBV and can spread the virus to others.

To learn more well-nigh HBV tests, visit the CDC webpage Hepatitis B Questions and Answers for the Public.

What are the symptoms of HBV infection?

Some people with acute HBV do non have symptoms. Simply some people tin have signs of HBV soon subsequently becoming infected. Symptoms of acute HBV tin include the post-obit:

• Loss of appetite
• Tiredness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Intestinal hurting
• Nighttime urine
• Clay-colored bowel movements
• Joint pain
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes)

Near people with chronic HBV do not have whatsoever symptoms and may not have symptoms for many years. Abnormal results on liver function tests may be the start sign of chronic HBV infection.

What is the treatment for HBV?

In general, HBV is treated with antiviral medicines. The medicines work to help limit impairment to the liver.

People with HIV/HBV coinfection should be treated for both infections. Some HIV medicines are constructive at treating both HIV and HBV.

The selection of medicines to treat HIV/HBV coinfection depends on the person. For case, some people may take HIV medicines that are also effective at treating HBV. Other people may take HIV medicines and an HBV antiviral medicine. If you accept HIV/HBV coinfection, talk to your wellness care provider virtually the best medicines for you.

This fact sheet is based on information from the following sources:

laddmeneavell.blogspot.com

Source: https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/hiv-and-hepatitis-b

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