Hepatitis B

• Acute hepatitis B. This lasts for 6 months or less.
• Long-term (chronic) hepatitis B. This lasts for more than 6 months. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to:
  • Loss of liver function (liver failure).
  • Scarring of the liver (cirrhosis).
  • Liver cancer.

Most adults with acute hepatitis B do not develop chronic hepatitis B. Babies and young children who get hepatitis B are more likely to develop chronic hepatitis B than adults. The HBV vaccine can prevent this infection.

What are the causes?

• Contact with the body fluids of an infected person. This includes blood, breast milk, tears, saliva, semen, and vaginal fluids.
• Childbirth. A woman who has hepatitis B can pass it to her baby during birth.

What increases the risk?

• Having contact with needles or syringes that have HBV on them (are contaminated). This may happen by injecting drugs, getting a tattoo, or getting body piercing. Contact may also happen while receiving a treatment that inserts thin needles through your skin. This is called acupuncture.
• Having sex with someone who is infected and not using a condom. The virus can be passed through vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
• Living with or having close contact with a person who has hepatitis B.
• Working in a job that involves contact with blood or body fluids, such as in health care.
• Traveling to a country where hepatitis B is common.
• Receiving treatment to filter your blood (kidney dialysis).
• Having received donated blood (blood transfusion), or having had an organ transplant.

What are the signs or symptoms?

• Loss of appetite.
• Fever or tiredness (fatigue).
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Stomach pain.
• Dark yellow urine.
• Yellowing of your skin or the white parts of your eyes (jaundice).
• Light-colored or tan stool.
• Joint pain.

Often, hepatitis B causes no symptoms.

How is this diagnosed?

• A physical exam.
• Your medical history.
• Blood tests.

How is this treated?

• Lower your risk of liver failure, cirrhosis, or liver cancer.
• Lower your ability to pass HBV to others.

You will need to avoid taking certain medicines that can cause more damage to your liver.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• If you were prescribed an antiviral medicine, take it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop using the antiviral even if you start to feel better.
• Do not take:
  • Over-the-counter medicines that contain acetaminophen.
  • New medicines, including over-the-counter medicines or supplements, unless approved by your health care provider.

Activity

• Rest as needed.
• Do not have sex unless your health care provider approves.
• Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
• Ask your health care provider when you may return to school or work.
• Avoid swimming and using hot tubs until your health care provider approves.

Eating and drinking

• Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats or non-meat proteins, such as beans or tofu.
• Drink enough fluids to keep your urine pale yellow.
• Do not drink alcohol.

General instructions

• Do not share toothbrushes, nail clippers, or razors.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Tell your health care provider about all the people with whom you live or have close contact. Your health care provider may recommend that they receive the HBV vaccine.
• Cover any cuts or open sores on your skin to prevent spreading HBV. Follow other instructions from your health care provider about how to avoid spreading HBV.
• Keep all follow-up visits. This is important.

How is this prevented?

• Get the HBV vaccine. This helps prevent the hepatitis B infection.
• If you have been exposed to HBV recently, your health care provider may recommend that you get one of the following to help prevent infection:
  • Human immunoglobulin. This is a blood protein that is given by injection or by IV to fight germs in the body.
  • The HBV vaccine. Even if you got this vaccine as a child, a booster shot may help.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use a condom every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Latex condoms offer the best protection.
• Do not share needles or syringes.
• Do not handle blood or other body fluids without gloves or other protection.
• Avoid getting tattoos or piercings in shops that are not clean.

Where to find more information

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/hepatitis
• World Health Organization: www.who.int

Contact a health care provider if you:

• Develop a rash.
• Develop jaundice, or your chronic jaundice is more severe.
• Have a fever or chills.

Get help right away if you:

• Are unable to eat or drink.
• Feel confused.
• Have trouble breathing.
• Have swelling of your skin, throat, mouth, or face.
• Have a seizure.
• Become very sleepy or have trouble waking up.
• Have a swollen abdomen.

These symptoms may represent a serious problem that is an emergency. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.). Do not drive yourself to the hospital.

Summary

• Hepatitis B is a liver infection that is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The two types of hepatitis B include acute and long-term (chronic) hepatitis B.
• HBV may spread from person to person (is contagious).
• Do not take any new medicines, including over-the-counter medicines or supplements, unless approved by your health care provider.
• To help prevent hepatitis B, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.