{"id":3989,"date":"2023-07-28T14:29:05","date_gmt":"2023-07-28T14:29:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.rafflesmedical.vn\/?p=3989"},"modified":"2024-01-31T08:38:10","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T08:38:10","slug":"the-silent-epidemic-hepatitis-b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.rafflesmedical.vn\/vi\/the-silent-epidemic-hepatitis-b\/","title":{"rendered":"The Silent Epidemic: Hepatitis B"},"content":{"rendered":"

Imagine an invader silently infiltrating our bodies, infecting us without our knowledge. Well, that is hepatitis B for you.<\/p>\n

Unseen and stealthy, hepatitis B hides in plain sight, causing chronic infections and putting people at risk of long-term health complications.<\/p>\n

Unlike its counterparts such as hepatitis A and C, which often present with noticeable symptoms, hepatitis B distinguishes itself through its asymptomatic nature. Many infected individuals remain unaware of their infections for years, acting as carriers, ready to unwittingly pass it on to others.<\/p>\n

What is Hepatitis B?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus, and its outcome varies among those infected. Some individuals may experience a short-term illness lasting a few weeks, while others who are infected may go on to develop chronic hepatitis B.<\/p>\n

Infected patients with acute hepatitis B may exhibit symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal pain, dark urine, or jaundice, while others remain asymptomatic. In some severe cases, hospitalisation may also be required.<\/p>\n

As time passes, chronic hepatitis B can impact the liver significantly, resulting in health complications such as liver damage, cirrhosis (permanent scarring and hardening of the liver), and even liver cancer.<\/p>\n

How is Hepatitis B Transmitted?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

While hepatitis is primarily known as a liver disease, did you know that Hepatitis B is also a sexually transmitted disease? During sexual intercourse, a carrier of Hepatitis B transmits the virus through vaginal and seminal fluids, infecting his or her partner.<\/p>\n

Individuals who have multiple sexual partners are particularly susceptible to contracting Hepatitis B as the increased exposure to potential carriers of the virus amplifies the risk of transmission.<\/p>\n

Apart from sexual transmission, Hepatitis B can also be transmitted via items contaminated with infected blood, or mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy and childbirth.<\/p>\n

A baby who acquires Hepatitis B through a mother-to-child transmission generally does not manifest any symptoms. However, the baby can go on to become a Hepatitis B carrier as they will not be able to eliminate the virus from their bodies.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

How to Prevent Hepatitis B?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The prevention of hepatitis B and mitigating the consequences of this virus begins with understanding the virus and adopting preventive measures.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Individuals who are sexually active, especially those with multiple sexual partners, should consistently practice safe sexual protection during intercourse, such as using a condom. Sexual partners should also promote and initiate honest communication so as to gain a clear understanding of each other\u2019s sexual history.<\/li>\n
  2. Avoid sharing personal items such as needles, razors, and even toothbrushes, that are prone to coming into contact with blood. One should always maintain personal hygiene and use sterile equipment.<\/li>\n
  3. Hepatitis B Vaccination \u2013 Ultimately, the most effective way to protect oneself against hepatitis B is through vaccination. By getting vaccinated, not only can we shield ourselves from the disease, but also create community immunity. Vaccination helps reduce the transmission of the hepatitis B virus and move towards our goal of safeguarding our community.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Taking the initiative to get screened is a proactive step towards protecting your health and the well-being of the people around you.<\/p>\n

    Remember, early detection and prevention are key in combating all diseases including hepatitis B. Prioritise your health by adopting safe practices. Together, we can work towards a life free from hepatitis B!<\/p>\n

    This article is contributed by:<\/em>
    \nDr Ho Woon Yang, Senior Family Physician, Raffles Medical<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Imagine an invader silently infiltrating our bodies, infecting us without our knowledge. Well, that is hepatitis B for you. Unseen and stealthy, hepatitis B hides in plain sight, causing chronic infections and putting people at risk of long-term health complications. Unlike its counterparts such as hepatitis A and C, which often present with noticeable symptoms, […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3990,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-highlight"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.rafflesmedical.vn\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3989","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.rafflesmedical.vn\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.rafflesmedical.vn\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.rafflesmedical.vn\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.rafflesmedical.vn\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3989"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/en.rafflesmedical.vn\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3989\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4035,"href":"https:\/\/en.rafflesmedical.vn\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3989\/revisions\/4035"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.rafflesmedical.vn\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3990"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.rafflesmedical.vn\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3989"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.rafflesmedical.vn\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3989"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.rafflesmedical.vn\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3989"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}