Viet Hep B Free

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FAQs

Untitled Document

This is a text version of the frequently asked questions about hepatitis B.
Audio and video versions will be available in the near future. Thank you.

01. What is hepatitis B?
02. How is the hepatitis B virus transmitted?
03. Who can get hepatitis B?
04. Should I be worried about hepatitis B?
05. How do I know if I have hepatitis B?
06. Should all family members get tested for hepatitis B?
07. Can hepatitis B be prevented?
08. Is chronic hepatitis B treatable?
09. What should people with chronic hepatitis B do?
10. Health or illness, which one do you choose?
11. Where do I go to get tested or vaccinated?
12. How do I ask for a hepatitis B blood test?

01. What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease caused by a virus. Infection with the hepatitis B virus can cause either short-term or long-term liver inflammation (hepatitis), liver failure, cirrhosis (scarring), and cancer.

02. How is the hepatitis B virus transmitted?
The hepatitis B virus lives mainly in the liver and blood. This virus is easily transmitted through blood, semen, and vaginal fluid. Only the hepatitis B blood test can detect whether you have been infected with this virus.

03. Who can get hepatitis B?
People can get hepatitis B by sharing infected objects such as toothbrushes, needles, or razors or by having “unprotected sex” with an infected person. However, most Vietnamese people with hepatitis B were infected at birth because their mothers had the infection. Everyone in your family should get tested for hepatitis B to find out if they have it or not.

04. Should I be worried about hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a very dangerous and potentially deadly disease. Currently, 1 in 7 Vietnamese has chronic hepatitis B infection. You should get tested for hepatitis B.

05. How do I know if I have hepatitis B?
Many Vietnamese people with hepatitis B do not know it because they feel healthy and do not yet have symptoms. The only way to know for sure whether you are infected with hepatitis B is to get a hepatitis B blood test.

06. Should all family members get tested for hepatitis B?
All Vietnamese have a responsibility to protect both their health and that of their family. Couples can infect each other with hepatitis B, and mothers can infect their children during delivery without knowing it. Therefore, all family members should get tested for hepatitis B.

07. Can hepatitis B be prevented?
Hepatitis B can be prevented with a vaccine--3 shots over 6 months. If you do not have hepatitis B, ask your doctor for the hepatitis B vaccine. It is very safe and will protect you for life.

08. Is chronic hepatitis B treatable?
If not treated, chronic hepatitis B infection can lead to liver cirrhosis (scarring) or liver cancer which can be deadly. Fortunately, there are medications to treat chronic hepatitis B, so people who are infected should talk to their doctors about treatment.

09. What should people with chronic hepatitis B do?
People who have hepatitis B should talk to their doctor about treatment with medications. They should also do the following: get vaccinated against hepatitis A; not share toothbrushes, needles, or razors; practice “safer sex” with condoms; cover all open wounds; and avoid alcohol and acetaminophen.

10. Health or illness, which one do you choose?
Nothing is more precious in life than health; the older we get, the more we appreciate this. Please take time to get tested for hepatitis B, and also encourage your family to get tested for peace of mind.

11. Where do I go to get tested or vaccinated?
You should contact your doctor or clinic. Most health insurance covers hepatitis B testing and vaccination. If you don’t have health insurance or cannot afford testing and/or vaccination, please contact the following partner agencies in your area:

Jade Ribbon Campaign
Asian Liver Center at Stanford University
Tel: (408) TOC-VIET (802-8438); http://liver.stanford.edu

San Francisco Hep B Free
City and County of San Francisco, Department of Public Health
Tel: (415) 554-2844; www.sfhepbfree.org

Asian Health Services
818 Webster Street, Oakland
Tel: (510) 986-6830; www.ahschc.org

12. How do I ask for a hepatitis B blood test?
Ask for tests to check for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb). Remember to find out your results and write them down.

Date / Ngày thử nghiệm:_________________
Results / Thử nghiệm máu HBsAg:_______________
Results / Thử nghiệm máu HBsAb: _______________

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