Taking Charge of Your Health: Free Hepatitis B Screening and Treatment

Who should be tested? In the UK, people from regions where hepatitis B is common – in particular countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Asia Pacific region and the Indian Subcontinent – are more likely to be living with hepatitis B. Health experts are trying to improve awareness, without stigmatisation, to encourage people to access free hepatitis B tests.

How can a person be diagnosed with hepatitis B and treated? Diagnosing hepatitis B in the UK begins with a simple blood test. This test can be provided by your GP or sexual health clinic. If the test is positive, further tests can establish viral activity and whether any liver damage has occurred.

If there is evidence of viral activity and damage to the liver, immediate treatment is recommended, provided by the National Health Service.

Antiviral pills, such as tenofovir or entecavir, swallowed once a day, prevents the virus from multiplying in the liver and will greatly diminish the risk of severe liver disease or liver cancer. These medications also reduce the chances of spreading the virus. Although the medications do not eradicate the virus and need to be taken daily for years, the tablets are very safe and effectively decrease the risk of liver damage, liver failure and cancer. In addition to the current effective maintenance treatments of tenofovir and entecavir, new curative treatments for hepatitis B are also being developed.

To ensure that the treatment remains effective, regular – but infrequent – medical follow-ups are essential.

Getting tested for hepatitis B is crucial for managing your health and wellbeing. Early detection allows prompt initiation of treatment, which can significantly improve your liver health and life expectancy. Don’t wait – talk to your GP today about hepatitis B screening and take control of your health.