Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Is Hepatitis-B A Contagious Disease?
Question: Dr. Am chronic hep b patient. I had minor injury in my head few days ago, but have dressing in the hospital, about to heal now. Dr. Am too much concerned whenever i touch my head thinking if carrying the hep b virus in my hand and transfer it to other people or any other object i touch. After touching the area of my dry wound thinking i carried the virus and transfered it to anything i touch. Am i transferring it according to my thought or what? Please advice. And even if i saw small beats in my body am too much concern. Finally, is hand sanitizer, like antibacteria hand mousturizer or liquid soap can kill hep b virus? Please. Really disturb.
Brief Answer:
Please see the detailed answer below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello! I have been through your question.
Related your concern you have right because the HBV virus may be stable in dried blood for up to 7 days at 25°C but you should know that the virus within the dried blood also needs some conditions to be transmitted to another person who is in contact with the blood.Although there are such possibility, again, other conditions are still needed. The volume of body fluid (in this case died blood), concentration of virus in the fluid, the temperature, acidity and the sun exposure.
You should know that to have contact with dry blood which contains hepatitis B is not enough to spread the virus, unless there is a blood to blood contact such as a deep injury which result heavy bleeding in contact with the virus within the dried blood (if it still survives).
It is known that ethanol-based sanitizers and bleach are known to kill effectively HBV. Contaminated surfaces must be wiped down using an appropriate disinfectant such as an EPA-approved disinfectant.Washing hand with soap could help to prevent the spread of HBV.
So I suggest to use all of these tools in order to prevent the transmission of HBV.
I hope my answer helps you.
I wish you a quick recovery.
Regards.
Please see the detailed answer below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello! I have been through your question.
Related your concern you have right because the HBV virus may be stable in dried blood for up to 7 days at 25°C but you should know that the virus within the dried blood also needs some conditions to be transmitted to another person who is in contact with the blood.Although there are such possibility, again, other conditions are still needed. The volume of body fluid (in this case died blood), concentration of virus in the fluid, the temperature, acidity and the sun exposure.
You should know that to have contact with dry blood which contains hepatitis B is not enough to spread the virus, unless there is a blood to blood contact such as a deep injury which result heavy bleeding in contact with the virus within the dried blood (if it still survives).
It is known that ethanol-based sanitizers and bleach are known to kill effectively HBV. Contaminated surfaces must be wiped down using an appropriate disinfectant such as an EPA-approved disinfectant.Washing hand with soap could help to prevent the spread of HBV.
So I suggest to use all of these tools in order to prevent the transmission of HBV.
I hope my answer helps you.
I wish you a quick recovery.
Regards.
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
