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Hepatitis B & C: Prevent, Test, Cure, Monitor

Hepatitis B is preventable with vaccination. Hepatitis C is curable in over 95% of cases with 8–12 weeks of oral therapy. Irys Medical Center offers comprehensive liver health services in Nairobi.

Hepatitis B vaccination and testing at Irys Medical Center, Nairobi

Hepatitis B vs Hepatitis C: Key Differences

Feature Hepatitis B (HBV) Hepatitis C (HCV)
Virus Type DNA virus (Hepadnaviridae) RNA virus (Flaviviridae)
Prevention Vaccine available (95% effective) No vaccine
Cure Chronic management (not curable) 95–99% cure rate with DAAs
Primary Transmission Blood, sex, mother-to-child Blood (rarely sex)
Chronic Infection Risk 90% in newborns, 5% in adults 75–85% of all infections
Global Deaths (2023) ~1.1 million ~300,000

How Hepatitis B and C Spread

Common Transmission Routes
  • Unprotected sexual intercourse (especially HBV)
  • Sharing needles or drug paraphernalia
  • Mother-to-child during birth (HBV)
  • Contaminated blood transfusion (rare in Kenya)
  • Unsterilized tattoo/piercing equipment
  • Sharing razors or toothbrushes
Not Transmitted By
  • Hugging, kissing, or holding hands
  • Sharing food, drinks, or utensils
  • Coughing, sneezing, or mosquito bites
  • Swimming pools or toilet seats

Symptoms: Often Silent Until Advanced

Most infections are asymptomatic for years. Symptoms appear in acute phase or late chronic disease.

Acute Phase (2–12 weeks post-exposure)
  • Jaundice (yellow skin/eyes)
  • Dark urine, pale stools
  • Severe fatigue
  • Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
  • Abdominal pain (upper right)
Chronic Phase (years later)
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Joint and muscle pain
  • Itchy skin
  • Spider angiomas (skin blood vessels)
  • Ascites, confusion (late-stage)

80–90% of chronic cases remain silent until cirrhosis or cancer develops.

Testing at Irys Medical Center

We use WHO-approved serological and molecular tests with results in 24–48 hours.

Hepatitis B Testing Panel
  • HBsAg: Active infection
  • Anti-HBs: Immunity (vaccine or past infection)
  • Anti-HBc: Past or current exposure
  • HBV DNA PCR: Viral load (chronic cases)
Hepatitis C Testing Panel
  • Anti-HCV: Antibody screening
  • HCV RNA PCR: Confirms active infection
  • Genotype: Guides treatment (optional)
  • FibroScan: Assesses liver fibrosis

Free retesting for cured HCV patients at 12 weeks post-treatment.

Hepatitis B: Prevent with Vaccine, Manage Chronically

HBV Vaccination

3-dose series (0, 1, 6 months)
95% lifelong protection
Free for infants and high-risk groups
Post-vaccination anti-HBs testing available

Chronic HBV Treatment

Tenofovir (TDF) or Entecavir
Daily oral tablet
Suppresses viral replication
Reduces liver cancer risk by 70%

Hepatitis C: Curable in 8–12 Weeks

Over 95% cure rate with Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs). No injections. Minimal side effects.

Standard Regimen

Sofosbuvir + Daclatasvir
12 weeks, 1 pill daily
All genotypes

Pangenotypic Option

Glecaprevir + Pibrentasvir
8 weeks (treatment-naïve, no cirrhosis)
12 weeks (with cirrhosis)

Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) confirmed 12 weeks post-treatment = cure.

Prevention Strategies

Effective Prevention
  • Get the full HBV vaccine series
  • Use condoms consistently
  • Avoid sharing needles or personal items
  • Screen all blood donations
  • Test all pregnant women
  • Use sterile equipment for tattoos/piercings
High-Risk Behaviors to Avoid
  • Sharing razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers
  • Unsterilized medical or dental tools
  • Self-medication with injectables
  • Assuming "it won't happen to me"

Long-Term Liver Health Monitoring

Even after cure or viral suppression, regular monitoring prevents complications.

  • Liver Function Tests (LFTs): Every 6 months
  • FibroScan: Assesses liver stiffness
  • Ultrasound: Screens for liver cancer
  • AFP tumor marker: For high-risk patients

Free annual FibroScan for all treated patients.

Untreated Risks: Cirrhosis, Cancer, Death

Liver Cirrhosis

Irreversible scarring
Portal hypertension
Ascites, variceal bleeding

Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Liver cancer risk ↑ 100x
5-year survival < 20%

Liver Failure

1 million deaths/year globally
Leading cause of death in HBV/HCV

Hepatitis in Pregnancy

All pregnant women are screened at first visit.

  • HBV: High risk of mother-to-child transmission. Newborn receives HBIG + vaccine within 12 hours.
  • HCV: Low transmission risk. No vaccine, but safe DAAs available postpartum.

Free infant HBV vaccination at birth, 6, and 14 weeks.

Family and Partner Screening

Irys offers:

  • Family Package: 3 blood tests + 1 HBV vaccine
  • Pregnancy Package: HBV + HCV screening
  • Free infant vaccination at birth
  • Partner testing with results in 48 hours

Hepatitis Myths vs. Facts

Myth: Only drug users get hepatitis B or C.
Fact: Anyone can be infected via sex, birth, blood, or medical procedures.
Myth: Hepatitis C is incurable.
Fact: Over 95% cured with 8–12 weeks of oral medication.
Myth: The HBV vaccine causes hepatitis.
Fact: The vaccine contains no live virus and is extremely safe.
Myth: You can catch hepatitis from food.
Fact: HBV and HCV are bloodborne, not foodborne.

When to Seek Medical Help

Visit Irys Medical Center immediately if you have:

  • Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
  • Dark urine or pale stools
  • Unexplained fatigue lasting weeks
  • History of unprotected sex or needle use
  • Family member with hepatitis
  • Planning pregnancy

Early detection saves lives and prevents transmission.

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