Hepatitis B (aka Hep B)

What is Hep B?
Hep B is short for the virus called Hepatitis B. It causes liver damage and can cause liver failure (can be fatal).

How is it transmitted?
The Hep B virus can be transmitted to you by doing one of the following with an infected person:

• Unprotected Sex
• Sharing of IV drug needles
• Get a tattoo with an improperly sterilized need that was previously used on someone that was infected.
• Accidentally stuck by an infected needle
• Blood transfusion
• Saliva exchange is a theoretical, but virtually unheard of.
• Exchange of blood through an open wound

The Hep B virus can be transmitted to your BABY by doing one of the following with an infected person.

• Blood transfusion (blood is screened for Hep B, but in rare cases (1 in 65,000 or 1 in 500,000 units) it gets through.
• Saliva exchange is a theoretical, but virtually unheard of.
• Exchange of blood through an open wound.
• Birth if mom is infected. NOTE: The placenta protects the baby during pregnancy, but not birth).

As you might imagine it is extremely rare for a baby to be at risk for Hep B. Yes, the risk would go up as a child starts to handle things like needles or play with other children where injuries with blood are more likely. For a baby in the first two years of life I believe this to be a low risk disease. I will re-evaluate as she gets older. Even later, I think the risk is low enough to vaccinate, but I will delay until there is more exposure to risky situations. For example, a care giver, medical, etc.


Why would you want it?
If you are in the medical profession and around other people's blood or saliva you may want to consider the vaccine. Once you become sexually active it may make sense. Travel for less than 6 months is NOT a good reason to get this vaccine because there is little added risk. Though, it is worth noting that many places such as Alaska, Pacific Islands, China, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, most of the middle east, Africa and the northern part of South America have 12% of the population infected with Hep B opposed to 1% in the US, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, and southern part of South America which have 1% infected. Interestingly most cases in these areas are transmitted at the time of birth to infants. Countries not listed have a 5% infection rate.



Symptoms and Diagnosis
A blood test is needed to diagnose Hep B. Symptoms include

• Abdominal Pain
• Jaundice (yellow eyes and skin)
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue

Is HEP B Common?
According to Dr. Sears, this is a very difficult one to tell. The only place that he could find that said how many cases a year are reported was in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. It said there were 360 cases from birth to age nine per year. Interestingly, it is somehow estimated that 30,000 cases are estimated per year.

Keep in mind the study was done by the drug companies (GlaxoSmith Kline and Merck) did a study to determine if infants should be vaccinated for Hep B based on how many actual cases there were in infants and children. They concluded the number was 30,000 cases a year and every since 1991 it is recommended that all babies should be vaccinated in order to decrease Hep B in our population. The reality is that since then the cases of Hep B has decreased by two-thirds. Is this because of the vaccine or something else? Hard to say.

Is Hep B Serious
The vaccine books says, "Extremely. About 90% of babies who catch Hep B during birth become chronically infected. They may now show it for many years or decades, but 25% of them will develop liver cancer or liver failure eventually.

Kids who catch Hep B during the toddler or preschool years have about a 35 percent chance of getting a chronic infection and older kids and adults have only a 6 to 10% chance of developing a chronic disease....There are an estimated 4000 deaths each year in the United States from liver failure or liver cancel due to Hep B. These are virtually all among adults."

You may also want to consider that only 10% of children of contract Hep B show symptoms right away. On the other hand, it passes without much consequence for adults.

Is Hep B Treatable?
No routine treatment is available. However, there are treatments similar to Chemotherapy though. This works in about 1/3 of the cases. Also, babies that are born to infected mothers can be given a HBIG injection to kill the viruses. It can be given to anyone who is exposed to blood known to contain the Hep B virus.

When to give it?
The CDC and AAP now recommend giving the vaccination at BIRTH. This is the one size fits all mentality of the AAP and CDC. The vaccine only applies to those babies with mothers that have Hep B already. Alternatively, they used to recommend two months after birth for the first of three doses. If you decide you don't want to give the Hep B vaccination be aware that some hospitals don't ask, they just assume you want the vaccine for your newborn and give the vaccine to them. So, be sure to make it known to the staff what your preference is.  The upside of waiting until adolescence is that only 2 shots are needed instead of 3 and the toxin to body weight is much better (safer). Though 2 or 3 shots depends on the manufacturer.

How is the vaccine made?
The Vaccine Book says, "This is a very unique vaccine in that it is artificially engineered using advanced genetic techniques." The good news is there is no way to get Hep B from the vaccine. The bad news is a portion of DNA from the Hep B virus is integrated into yeast cells and then the virus is filtered out. Then to make the vaccine work "better" they add aluminum.

This is GMO to the max. If you research GMO in our food you will find that messing with DNA and then putting it in our body is a BAD idea. Our body doesn't know what to think of it. Add that to the aluminum, mercury, and formaldehyde and I'll give this vaccine a big PASS.
NOTE: Many of the manufacturers of the vaccine have removed either all or all but trace amounts (still too much though) of mercury, but check to be sure the vaccine being used doesn't have it.

Side Effects of the Vaccine
The standard side effects occur more frequently than with many of the other vaccines. About 10 to 15 percent of people experience flu-like symptoms. Other possible reactions are: life-threatening allergic reactions, severe rash, heart palpitations, minor liver damage, bleeding disorders, visual problems, hair loss, arthritis, lupus. There are also several neurological reactions but they are rare.

Conclusion

If you are someone how believes that vaccines work reduce disease in the long run and don't mind subjecting your baby and child to this vaccine then I guess it makes sense. For me, I will not subject my baby to something for the theoretical greater good of the population when the risk for her contracting the disease is extremely low.


References: All information on this post was taken from The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears.