Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). This virus is contracted by the exchange of bodily fluids with another person who has HBV. Most symptoms of hepatitis B will clear up, without treatment, within one to two months.
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What Is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B or HAB is a viral infection that can cause inflammation or damage to the liver. This virus is only transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids, whether through sexual contact or otherwise. Most cases of HAB are brief and resolve on their own, but some cases can turn into a chronic condition that carries a higher risk of further damage to the liver.
If you are pregnant, have a blood test for hepatitis B.
If you are diagnosed positive, be sure that your baby receives a vaccination called H-B-I-G, and then the:
- First dose of hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours of birth.
- Second dose of hepatitis B vaccine at 1 to 2 months of age.
- Third dose at 6 months of age.
Your baby should also receive a blood test between the ages of 9 months and 15 months to ensure they are protected.
What are the types of hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B can come in two forms, acute and chronic.
In its acute form, the symptoms may only last a few months and can clear up without medical intervention. However, the chronic form can have symptoms lasting up to six months and can lead to much more serious conditions like cirrhosis and even liver failure.
How common is hepatitis B?
Adults can receive a vaccine for hepatitis B, which can protect them from contracting the virus. Vaccines make HAB a relatively uncommon condition in the U.S., with only a 20% risk of getting infected in a lifetime. This condition can spread in communities where the sharing of bodily fluids could occur.
There have been incidents of outbreaks of HAB in groups that share needles or sexual partners.
What causes hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
This virus is spread through contact with the body fluids of an infected person, such as:
- Blood.
- Saliva.
- Semen.
- Vaginal fluids.
A woman infected with hepatitis B can pass the virus on to her baby during childbirth.
HBV cannot be spread by:
- Breastfeeding.
- Casual contact (such as an office setting).
- Food or water.
- Kissing or hugging.
- Sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses.
- Sneezing or coughing.
Hepatitis B risk factors
Hepatitis B can only be spread through the transmission of bodily fluids, such as saliva or semen. While this mode of transmission lowers the chances of contracting this virus, it may also make certain demographics more vulnerable.
HAB can also be passed from mother to child if the mother has the virus at the time of birth.
Although HAB can resolve itself in a matter of months, it can also develop into a chronic condition that can cause severe damage to your liver. Symptoms can be monitored and managed with the help of your doctor.
Hepatitis B risk factors include:
Coming in contact with the blood or other body fluids of someone infected with hepatitis B increases your risk for infection. Unlike the hepatitis A virus, HBV is not spread through contaminated food or water.
The following situations may increase your risk of getting hepatitis B:
- Being bitten (so that the skin is broken) by someone whose saliva contains HBV.
- Having a sexually transmitted infection at the time you come in contact with hepatitis B.
- Having been born to a mother who had hepatitis B at the time of birth.
- Having more than one sexual partner.
- Having sex with someone infected with hepatitis B or who is a carrier of hepatitis B.
- Injecting illicit drugs, especially with shared needles.
- Living in the same house with someone who is infected with hepatitis B and sharing items such as toothbrushes or razors.
- Receiving a blood transfusion prior to 1975 (when a screening test was developed for donated blood).
- Traveling to areas where hepatitis B is common, such as China, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
People at risk of contracting HBV include:
- Those who have jobs that involve contact with body fluids, such as:
- Dentists and dental assistants.
- Firefighters.
- First aid or emergency workers.
- Funeral directors.
- Medical personnel.
- Police officers.
- Employees or patients in hospitals or long-term care facilities.
- Hemodialysis patients.
- Hemophiliacs receiving multiple transfusions of blood or blood products (risk is greatly reduced with careful blood screening)
- Prison employees and prisoners.
Note: It is important that all pregnant people get a blood test for hepatitis B early in their pregnancies since HBV can be spread to babies during childbirth.
Complications of hepatitis B
Left undiagnosed, most cases of hepatitis B will resolve on their own in one to two months. However, some cases of HAB can last beyond six months, which could develop into chronic hepatitis B. This condition can be much more serious and can lead to liver damage by cancer, cirrhosis, or inflammation.
How can I prevent hepatitis B?
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is spread through contact with the body fluids of an infected person.
Hepatitis B can be prevented through vaccination, consisting of three injections over six months. Protection is not complete without all three injections.
Anyone at increased risk for hepatitis B should be vaccinated.
In addition, to prevent the transmission of hepatitis B:
- Limit the number of your sexual partners.
- Do not inject drugs. If you use IV drugs, get treatment to help you stop. Never share needles or syringes.
- Do not share personal items that might have blood on them, such as razors, toothbrushes, manicuring tools, or pierced earrings.
- If you get a tattoo or body piercing, make sure the artist or piercer uses properly sterilized equipment. Infection could spread if the tools have someone else's blood on them.
- Use condoms or abstain from sex.
Health care and public safety workers should get vaccinated against hepatitis B and:
- Always follow routine barrier precautions and safely handle needles and other sharp instruments.
- Cover open cuts or wounds.
- Use only sterilized needles for drug injections, blood testing, ear piercing, and tattooing.
- Wear gloves when touching or cleaning up body fluids on personal items, such as bandages, tampons, and linens.
If you have hepatitis B
- If you have chronic hepatitis B, you can prevent the spread of your infection by:
- Discussing your hepatitis B status with your doctor during pregnancy or before becoming pregnant, to ensure that your baby receives treatment.
- Never donating blood, organs, or tissue.
- Telling your doctors, dentist, and sexual partner(s) that you have hepatitis B.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B can have a longer incubation period than hepatitis A, so it may take up to two months for the signs and symptoms to show.
The most common symptoms are:
- Abdominal pain in the area of the liver (upper right side).
- Darker colored urine.
- Fatigue that lasts for weeks or even months.
- Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin).
- Joint pain.
- Light-colored stool.
- Loss of appetite.
- Low-grade fever.
- Nausea.
- Rash.
- Vomiting.
- Widespread itching.
When should I see a doctor about my hepatitis B symptoms?
Hepatitis B symptoms usually appear within 25 to 180 days following exposure to the hepatitis B virus. If you are showing the symptoms of hepatitis B, such as abdominal pain, fatigue, and or jaundice, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible. Your primary care physician is a good starting point for understanding your condition and monitoring and managing your symptoms.
How Do You Diagnose Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B can cause liver damage, so your doctor will look for signs of liver damage first. Your doctor will perform a physical examination to look for signs of liver damage, like yellowing of the eyes and skin or swelling of the abdomen, feet, or legs.
Your doctor will also ask about your family medical history as well as your substance use, like how often you consume alcohol. Your doctor will aim to understand if you are participating in behaviors that result in or are predisposed to liver-damaging conditions. From here, your doctor will need to know how severe your condition is by testing the function of your liver through blood tests and a liver biopsy if needed.
Tests to diagnose hepatitis B
- Blood tests – Blood will be drawn, tested, and examined to look for BHV and monitor its effects on the liver’s functions.
- Liver biopsy – A small portion of the liver is removed and examined to understand the extent of the effects on the liver. This test will only be performed in cases of chronic HBV.
Hepatitis B prognosis
Hepatitis B is a condition with a good outlook for recovery, especially if you seek medical attention. Some rare cases can develop into a chronic condition.
How Do You Treat Hepatitis B?
The two main options for HAB treatment include either an injected or orally taken medicine.
The symptoms of hepatitis B can be treated with the following medicines:
- Interferon alfa-2b (Intron A), given by injection.
- Lamivudine (Epivir-HBV), given orally.
People with uncomplicated cases can expect to recover completely.
Those who have chronic hepatitis B are treated with medicine to reduce the activity of the virus and prevent liver failure.
People with chronic hepatitis B should avoid anything that can further injure the liver, such as:
- Alcohol.
- Certain medicines.
- Dietary supplements.
- Herbs.
Before taking any of the above substances, discuss them with your doctor.
How effective is treatment?
Your doctor will help you choose the best course of treatment, which will be dependent on the severity of your condition. If caught early, you may not even need medical intervention. Chronic cases of HAB can require more medical attention should the condition continue to worsen to the point that it causes cirrhosis or liver failure.
