What Is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a type of liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). There are two types of hepatitis B infection.
Acute hep B infection occurs within six months of exposure to HBV. Some people may not have any symptoms at this point and may not know they have an infection. Others may have severe symptoms, such as vomiting that requires a hospital stay.
Chronic hep B lasts beyond six months of exposure to the virus. It occurs in around 5% to 10% of adults exposed to the virus.
Most infants and young children who get an acute infection end up with a chronic illness. This is because their immune systems aren't mature enough to fight off the virus.
Many people with chronic hep B have it for life. But medicine can slow and even stop the virus from causing further damage.
Hepatitis B causes
You can catch this virus through contact with body fluids of an infected person, such as:
- Blood.
- Semen.
- Vaginal fluids.
- Saliva.
Spread can occur through close contact, including:
- Sexual contact.
- Sharing needles.
- Accidental needle sticks.
- Mother to child.
A woman with hep B can pass the virus to her baby during childbirth. If you're pregnant and have hepatitis B, it's crucial to talk to your ob-gyn about treatments to protect your baby.
You can't catch hep B from:
- Sneezing or coughing.
- Kissing or hugging.
- Sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses.
- Breastfeeding.
- Food or water.
- Casual contact (such as in an office).
Hepatitis B risk factors
A risk factor is something that increases your chances of getting a disease or illness.
Coming in contact with the blood or other body fluids of someone infected with HBV can increase your risk for infection.
Unlike the hepatitis A virus, hep B isn't spread through contaminated food or water.
You may increase your risk of getting hepatitis B if you:
- Have sex with someone who has hep B.
- Were born to a mother who had hep B at the time of your birth.
- Inject illicit drugs, especially with shared needles.
- Have more than one sexual partner.
- Live in the same house with someone with hep B — and you share items such as toothbrushes or razors.
- Have an STD at the time you come in contact with hepatitis B.
- Travel to areas where hep B is common, such as China, southeast Asia, or sub-Saharan Africa.
- Received a blood transfusion prior to 1975 (when blood screenings for hep B started).
- Received a bite that broke the skin, and their saliva entered the wound.
People at risk for hepatitis B include:
- Those whose jobs involve contact with body fluids, such as:
- First aid or EMS workers.
- Funeral directors.
- Medical staff.
- Dentists and dental assistants.
- Firefighters.
- Police officers.
- People who work or stay in the hospital or long-term care settings.
- Hemophiliacs who have many blood transfusions or receive blood products (careful blood screening greatly lowers risk).
- Hemodialysis patients.
Note: All pregnant women should get a blood test for hepatitis B early in their pregnancy. That's because moms can spread HBV to their babies during birth.
Complications of acute and chronic hepatitis B
Left untreated, hepatitis B can lead to serious problems, including:
- Chronic swelling of the liver.
- Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver).
- Liver cancer.
- Liver failure.
- Death (every year, 5,000 people die from liver disease caused by HBV).
Doctors might not detect chronic hep B infection for decades until you become seriously ill from liver disease.
When to see a doctor about hepatitis B
See your doctor if you have yellowing of the skin (jaundice) or abnormal belly pain.
Tests that can help diagnose hep B are:
- Blood tests - To learn if you have acute or chronic hepatitis B.
- Liver biopsy - To remove and test a small sample of your liver to check for damage.
- Liver ultrasound - To show the amount of liver damage.