Overview

Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). For
some people, hepatitis B infection becomes chronic, meaning it lasts more than
six months. Having chronic hepatitis B increases your risk of developing liver
failure, liver cancer or cirrhosis — a condition that permanently scars of the liver.

Most adults with hepatitis B recover fully, even if their signs and symptoms are
severe. Infants and children are more likely to develop a chronic (long-lasting)
hepatitis B infection.

A vaccine can prevent hepatitis B, but there's no cure if you have the condition. If
you're infected, taking certain precautions can help prevent spreading the virus to
others.

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Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of hepatitis B range from mild to severe. They usually
appear about one to four months after you've been infected, although you could
see them as early as two weeks post-infection. Some people, usually young
children, may not have any symptoms.

Hepatitis B signs and symptoms may include:

 Abdominal pain

 Dark urine

 Fever

 Joint pain
  Loss of appetite

 Nausea and vomiting

 Weakness and fatigue

 Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)

When to see a doctor

If you know you've been exposed to hepatitis B, contact your doctor immediately.
A preventive treatment may reduce your risk of infection if you receive the
treatment within 24 hours of exposure to the virus.

If you think you have signs or symptoms of hepatitis B, contact your doctor.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic

Causes

Hepatitis B infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The virus is passed
from person to person through blood, semen or other body fluids. It does not
spread by sneezing or coughing.

Common ways that HBV can spread are:

 Sexual contact. You may get hepatitis B if you have unprotected sex with
someone who is infected. The virus can pass to you if the person's blood,
saliva, semen or vaginal secretions enter your body.

 Sharing of needles. HBV easily spreads through needles and syringes

contaminated with infected blood. Sharing IV drug paraphernalia puts you at
high risk of hepatitis B.

 Accidental needle sticks. Hepatitis B is a concern for health care workers

and anyone else who comes in contact with human blood.

 Mother to child. Pregnant women infected with HBV can pass the virus to
their babies during childbirth. However, the newborn can be vaccinated to
 avoid getting infected in almost all cases. Talk to your doctor about being
tested for hepatitis B if you are pregnant or want to become pregnant.
Acute vs. chronic hepatitis B

Hepatitis B infection may be either short-lived (acute) or long lasting (chronic).

 Acute hepatitis B infection lasts less than six months. Your immune
system likely can clear acute hepatitis B from your body, and you should
recover completely within a few months. Most people who get hepatitis B as
adults have an acute infection, but it can lead to chronic infection.

 Chronic hepatitis B infection lasts six months or longer. It lingers because

your immune system can't fight off the infection. Chronic hepatitis B
infection may last a lifetime, possibly leading to serious illnesses such as
cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The younger you are when you get hepatitis B — particularly newborns or
children younger than 5 — the higher your risk of the infection becoming chronic.
Chronic infection may go undetected for decades until a person becomes
seriously ill from liver disease.

Risk factors

Hepatitis B spreads through contact with blood, semen or other body fluids from
an infected person. Your risk of hepatitis B infection increases if you:

 Have unprotected sex with multiple sex partners or with someone who's
infected with HBV

 Share needles during IV drug use

 Are a man who has sex with other men

 Live with someone who has a chronic HBV infection

 Are an infant born to an infected mother

 Have a job that exposes you to human blood

  Travel to regions with high infection rates of HBV, such as Asia, the Pacific
Islands, Africa and Eastern Europe

Complications

Having a chronic HBV infection can lead to serious complications, such as:

 Scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). The inflammation associated with a

hepatitis B infection can lead to extensive liver scarring (cirrhosis), which
may impair the liver's ability to function.

 Liver cancer. People with chronic hepatitis B infection have an increased

risk of liver cancer.

 Liver failure. Acute liver failure is a condition in which the vital functions of
the liver shut down. When that occurs, a liver transplant is necessary to
sustain life.

 Other conditions. People with chronic hepatitis B may develop kidney

disease or inflammation of blood vessels.

Prevention

The hepatitis B vaccine is typically given as three or four injections over six
months. You can't get hepatitis B from the vaccine.

The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for:

 Newborns

 Children and adolescents not vaccinated at birth

 Those who work or live in a center for people who are developmentally
disabled

 People who live with someone who has hepatitis B

 Health care workers, emergency workers and other people who come into
contact with blood

 Anyone who has a sexually transmitted infection, including HIV

  Men who have sex with men

 People who have multiple sexual partners

 Sexual partners of someone who has hepatitis B

 People who inject illegal drugs or share needles and syringes

 People with chronic liver disease

 People with end-stage kidney disease

 Travelers planning to go to an area of the world with a high hepatitis B

infection rate
Take precautions to avoid HBV

Other ways to reduce your risk of HBV include:

 Know the HBV status of any sexual partner. Don't engage in unprotected
sex unless you're absolutely certain your partner isn't infected with HBV or
any other sexually transmitted infection.

 Use a new latex or polyurethane condom every time you have sex if
you don't know the health status of your partner. Remember that although
condoms can reduce your risk of contracting HBV, they don't eliminate the
risk.

 Don't use illegal drugs. If you use illicit drugs, get help to stop. If you can't
stop, use a sterile needle each time you inject illicit drugs. Never share
needles.

 Be cautious about body piercing and tattooing. If you get a piercing or

tattoo, look for a reputable shop. Ask about how the equipment is cleaned.
Make sure the employees use sterile needles. If you can't get answers, look
for another shop.

 Ask about the hepatitis B vaccine before you travel. If you're traveling to
a region where hepatitis B is common, ask your doctor about the hepatitis B
vaccine in advance. It's usually given in a series of three injections over a
six-month period.
Prevention Tips
Hepatitis B Prevention Measures
Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable disease. More than 1 billion doses of the
hepatitis B vaccine have been given worldwide, and it is considered to be a very
safe and effective vaccine to protect infants, children and adults from hepatitis
B. Learn more.

All sexual partners, family and close household members living with a chronically
infected person should be tested and vaccinated. It is important to remember that
hepatitis B is not spread casually! It is not spread by coughing, sneezing,
hugging, cooking and sharing food. It is spread through direct contact with
infected blood and bodily fluids.

Additional Prevention Measures

In addition to vaccination, there

are other simple ways to help stop the spread of hepatitis B:

 Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after any potential exposure
to blood
 Use condoms with sexual partners
 Avoid direct contact with blood and bodily fluids
 Clean up blood spills with a fresh diluted bleach solution (mix 1 part bleach
with 9 parts water)
 Cover all cuts carefully
 Avoid sharing sharp items such as razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and
earrings or body rings
 Discard sanitary napkins and tampons into plastic bags
 Avoid illegal street drugs (injecting, inhaling, snorting, or popping pills)
 Make sure new, sterile needles are used for ear or body piercing, tattoos, and
acupuncture