Hepatitis B

Also known as HBV (Hepatitis B Virus), hepatitis B is a disease of the liver brought by infection. Infections can derive from some medicines and medical practices, sexual contact, alcohol abuse, body piercings and tattoos, fatty deposits within the liver, and exposure to certain kinds of industrial chemicals that contain toxins or poisons.

There are two distinct phases of hepatitis B:

• Acute: This is short-term contraction of hepatitis B after being exposed to the hepatitis B virus. This can sometimes become severe and fatal.
• Chronic: This is the long-term contraction of HBV – lasting 6 or more months. A chronic infection always runs the risk of never going away.

Common Ways HBV is Spread

Hepatitis B is commonly spread in the following ways:

• Sexual contact/sharing needles: Any two or more people using utensils or performing activities in which there is blood or bodily fluid exchange.
• Exposure at Work/Hospital: People who work with blood or tools that handle blood run the risk of becoming infected with HBV. Workers in the health care industry may accidentally pass the virus along if a needle is used on an individual that was first used on someone who was infected.
• Piercings and tattoos: If tools or equipment used for tattooing and piercing are not properly sterilized, the virus can spread once the skin is penetrated.

Treatment for HBV

Treatment for hepatitis B depends on the phase of the infection:

• Acute hepatitis B will usually disappear on its own without medical care. Severe cases may result in dehydration due to diarrhea and vomiting.
• Chronic hepatitis B levels should be measured in the blood on a regular basis. There are no surgical treatments for chronic hepatitis B, except for complete liver transplants. Antiviral medications are the most common form of treatment for chronic hepatitis B.

Contact Us

If you or someone you know has contracted hepatitis B while at work or during a hospital visit, contact the Las Vegas personal injury lawyers of William Palmer & Associates, P.C., immediately at 702-888-2222.