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Hepatitis B - Management
What information and advice should I give to someone with hepatitis B?
- Provide the person with information on:
- The natural history of hepatitis B.
- How the disease is spread.
- The meaning of their blood test results — providing a copy if they wish.
- The need for specialist referral, while understanding that immediate treatment may not be required.
- The need for close follow up.
- Inform the person about the availability of patient information resources.
- Discuss the long-term implications for the person's health.
- Give advice to minimize the risk of transmission to partners and contacts. The person should:
- Avoid sharing items that might be contaminated with small amounts of blood (such as toothbrushes, razors, and scissors).
- Avoid unprotected sexual intercourse, including oro-anal and orogenital contact, until they have become noninfectious or their partners have been successfully immunized (as shown by a titre of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen [anti-HBs] greater than 10 IU/L).
- Avoid sharing needles and other drug paraphernalia. For information on managing intravenous drug users, see the CKS topic on Opioid dependence.
- Not donate blood, or carry an organ donor card.
- Advise the person to avoid drinking alcohol.
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