Most beauty-conscious women have their regular manicure and pedicure every week but this procedure is not entirely safe, according to Dr. Portia Manejero, chief of the Iloilo Provincial Clinic Office.

Manejero said people who are into this practice are prone to infection and Hepatitis B because of the sharp instruments (pusher and nipper) that are usually re-used to clean nails. She said once the nails are cut or wounded by these instruments that were used on a person with Hepatitis B, the virus is transferred.

"This is like re-using a used needle on another patient," she said.

Hepatitis B is an infectious inflammatory illness of the liver caused by the virus which is transmitted by exposure to infectious blood or body fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids. This is transmitted through contact with blood and/or body fluids of an infected person. Contact can happen through sexual activity with an infected partner, and blood transfusion, tattooing, contaminated needle or tools that can break a skin.

Manejero also stressed that they are not discouraging people from having a manicure and pedicure, but they are advised to take extra precaution, to observe cleanliness and to properly sterilize tools.

City Salon and Facial Care owner Tita Navarete said they put alcohol after using their tools and sterilize them with a sterilizer.

Home service manicurist Eva Juanico said she soaks all her tools in alcohol every night as her way of sterilizing. Aside from this, Juanico said she is making sure that her customer's nail and skin will not be cut to avoid infection.

If ever she accidentally breaks the skin, she uses amoxicillin powder and an ointment as first-aid.

Some of the basic symptoms of Hepatitis B are fatique, jaundice (the skin and whites of the eyes appear yellow), fever, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, vague abdominal pain and sometimes diarrhea, dark urine and light colored stools, itching of the skin may be present, and weight loss.

To avoid this, a person should refrain from blood to blood contact from injuries or soiled dressings, bandages, and menstrual items; clean up blood spills carefully (use rubber gloves disinfectant) and dispose of soiled items; avoid sharing personal toiletry items that could have dried blood on them; avoid high-risk sexual practices that might cause bleeding and avoid sex during menstruation (use condoms in these situation).

Earlier, 10 inmates of the Iloilo Provincial Integrated Jail (IPIJ) were positive of Hepatitis B. They are now isolated from other 700 inmates.

Cases were found out after medical students from the University of San Agustin had conducted its random testing among the 129 inmates who were subjected to blood tests.*