Hep B Question...?

a freind of mine was diagnosed with Hep B. He was a heavy drinker from an early age up until he was diagnosed. I guess what my question could he have gotten it from sharing a ciggerette with an infected person or have cut himself with a dirty nail? Could the Hep B develope from Liver Disease from so much drinking over the years? Then theres the million doller question could he have cheated on his gf and contracted it that way.

Thank u both for your answers HELPS A LOT.
I welcome so more feed back also thanks!

The short answer is no, he could not have gotten it from the rusty nail or from drinking. Hepatitis B virus is a blood-borne pathogen. Much like HIV (though it is a completely different virus and disease), it is most often transmitted through unprotected sex and sharing of needles among i.v. drug users. Our blood supply is pretty well screened now so that getting HBV from a blood transfusion is a relatively rare event.

If he has a GF, she should be screened and begin HBV vaccinations, a six-month, three to four shot regimen, IMMEDIATELY.

Hepatitis is not caused by drinking, he somehow became infected with it. His girlfriend should get tested immediately.

The only way he could have contracted HepB is from sex with an infected partner, or from sharing needles with an infected person. You do not catch HepB from sharing cigarettes (or food), or from alcohol. It is caused by a virus. Yes, he may have cheated on his girlfriend and caught it that way. She should definitely be tested, and if she is negative, she should be vaccinated against HepB immediately.

hepatitis b isn't just going to happen within a sexual relationship. hepatitis b is spread through ALL bodily fluids.

yes, he could have stepped on a rusty nail that had been previously been stepped on by someone with hepatitis b-
(there are millions of ways a disease can be spread)

as for drinking-that certainly should be eliminated as soon as possible-drinking alcohol will just add to the issue of liver disease-especially those with hbv.

good luck.

Hep B is not caused from drinking. Hep B may eventually cause cirrhosis of the liver and his drinking will make the cirrhosis happen much faster.

Hep B is considered a sexually transmitted disease because it is passed through blood and body fluids. If he were to have sex with someone that had hep B, he would get it.

Hep B is a very strong virus outside the body, it lives for about two weeks. So, it's a possibility that he could have gotten it from sticking himself with something that was contaminated with the hep b virus. I don't believe he would have gotten it from sharing a cigarette with someone unless the cigarette had blood on it and he had a cut in his mouth.

I am a nurse and teach infectious diseases. Hope this helps.