What does a hepatitis B carrier mean?

The hepatitis B carrier generally does not mean the hepatitis B patient. The hepatitis B carrier means that the body has the hepatitis B virus cells and is still contagious to a certain extent. If the hepatitis B surface antigen is positive and persists for more than six months, but there are no related hepatitis B disease characteristics, this is the case of a hepatitis B carrier.

Hepatitis B virus carrier (AsC) refers to a chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected person who has hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity for more than 6 months, rarely has symptoms and signs related to liver disease, and has basically normal liver function. Hepatitis B serological marker (HBV serologic marker, HBVM) is a necessary detection index for diagnosing hepatitis B virus infection. HBV deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV DNA) detection reflects the situation or level of viral replication.

Causes

It is mainly caused by infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), which can be transmitted from mother to child, during infancy, through sexual transmission, from infected persons with weak immunity, or through transformation from chronic hepatitis B.

1. Mother-to-child transmission

Vertical transmission from mother to child is the main source of infection for carriers after birth. Without preventive measures, the mother-to-child hepatitis B virus transmission rate for mothers who are double positive for hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B e antigen is almost 100%. Infants lack the immune system to clear large amounts of invading hepatitis B virus infection and are in a state of "immune tolerance." The deoxyribonucleic acid of the invading hepatitis B virus can combine with the chromosomal genes of the infant's liver cells, replicate and multiply using the infant's liver cells, and evade the attack of the body's immune system, thus manifesting as a long-term hepatitis B virus carrier state without showing any symptoms.

2. Infection in infancy

If young infants have long-term close living contact with mothers, nannies, or relatives who are positive for hepatitis B surface antigen or hepatitis B e antigen, such as breastfeeding, feeding, kissing, etc., they may be infected. Since the body's immune system is not fully developed in young infants, they are unable to eliminate the virus and tolerate the hepatitis B virus to coexist peacefully with them for a long time, thus becoming carriers. They may also be infected through vaccination and injection. Infants and young children are about 8 times more likely to be infected and carry the virus in a susceptible environment than adults.

3. Infected people with weak immunity

When adolescents and adults with low or incomplete immune function come into contact with the hepatitis B virus, they may not develop the disease but cannot eliminate the virus, causing the virus to coexist with the body and become hepatitis B virus carriers.

4. Transformation from chronic hepatitis B

After treatment, chronic hepatitis B patients will become hepatitis B virus carriers.