Hepatitis B carriers are people living with asymptomatic chronic hepatitis B. Although they do not experience any symptoms, they can still pass the infection to others. They are also at risk of developing complications, such as liver damage.
(Chronic means long-lasting.) It is chronic hepatitis B that leads to inflammation and the serious, and possibly fatal, illnesses of cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.
Chronic viral hepatitis B18-
Acute hepatitis B virus infection resolves in 95 percent of patients within one year. The remaining 5 percent have persistent infection and become chronic carriers. In the United States, there are nearly one million carriers, who are at increased risk of developing immune-complex disorders and liver diseases.
The second subset is called the 'inactive HBsAg carrier state'. It means a persistent HBV infection of the liver but without continual significant necroinflammatory disease. It is characterized by very low or undetectable serum HBV DNA levels and normal serum aminotransferases 1.
Inactive hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier state is defined according to European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) by chronic HBV infection evolves at least for 6 months, associated with normal ALT (Alanine aminotransferase), undetectable or very low serum HBV DNA levels below 2000 IU/ml, HBeAg negative, ...
ICD-10-CM Code for Liver disease, unspecified K76. 9.
Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. Some people with hepatitis B are sick for only a few weeks (known as “acute” infection), but for others, the disease progresses to a serious, lifelong illness known as chronic hepatitis B.
Most people who get hepatitis B as adults have an acute infection, but it can lead to chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis B infection lasts six months or longer. It lingers because your immune system can't fight off the infection.
Unless you have severe liver disease, hepatitis B does not impair your ability to be a teacher, nurse, doctor or home health aide. If your hepatitis B status is made known as a result of a blood test or exam, that information should go no farther than the human resources department.
HBV carriers and those having antibody from previous infection need not be vaccinated, but serologic screening to detect such individuals before vaccination may or may not be cost effective.
Hepatitis B is highly contagious. It's transmitted through contact with blood and certain other bodily fluids. Although the virus can be found in saliva, it's not transmitted through sharing utensils or kissing.