Hepatitis B is found in the blood and body fluids of someone with the infection.¹

You can only get hepatitis B by coming into contact with someone with the virus.² This can happen through unprotected sex, sharing needles or syringes, and using unclean equipment at barber shops and tattoo parlors. Additionally, pregnant women also can spread the virus to their babies during childbirth.¹

Medical professionals also are at risk for getting hepatitis B and should follow proper procedures for protecting themselves.²

However, there are other types of hepatitis. They are hepatitis A, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, hepatitis E, and hepatitis G. Both hepatitis A and hepatitis E can be spread through contaminated food and drinking water.^{3, 4}

However, hepatitis B is only spread through blood and body fluids.¹

Hepatitis B is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world.⁵

More than one-third of the world’s population is infected with the hepatitis B virus.² Some 350 million people worldwide are chronically infected.² This means they have a serious form of the disease that can lead to serious liver disease and liver cancer.² It is urgent that people who are at risk for hepatitis B visit their medical professionals and get tested.

Many people with hepatitis B do not feel sick.

30% of the people who are infected with the virus do not show any signs or symptoms of hepatitis B.¹ The only way to know if you have hepatitis B is to ask your medical professional. He or she can do a hepatitis B blood test to find out for sure.¹

About 90% of people infected with the hepatitis B virus have acute infection.⁶

This will last for a few weeks or months but the person will recover totally and not have any lasting health problems.⁶ However, about 10% of people infected with the virus will have chronic hepatitis B.² This is the more serious form of the infection and can lead to a serious liver disease, even liver cancer.⁶ Some 15-25% of people who are chronically infected will eventually develop serious liver conditions such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.¹

There are several different types of hepatitis and each is caused by a different virus.⁴

However, hepatitis B won’t turn into another type of hepatitis. People with the hepatitis B virus are still at risk for becoming infected with one of the other hepatitis viruses.⁷

• Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. It is generally spread by coming into contact with the faeces of an infected person. This happens because of poor sanitary habits, such as not washing your hands after going to the bathroom.³
• Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus and is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. It is passed from one person to another through blood and body fluids.²
• Hepatitis C: Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus. It is generally spread through blood transfusions. In most countries, donated blood is now checked for the virus before it is given to someone.⁸
• Hepatitis D: Hepatitis D is caused by the hepatitis D virus. The hepatitis D virus needs the hepatitis B virus to survive. Sometimes, people with hepatitis B also get hepatitis D because both are passed from one person to the other through blood and body fluids.⁹
• Hepatitis E: Hepatitis E is caused by the hepatitis E virus. Similar to the hepatitis A virus, it is spread by coming into contact with the faeces of an infected person.⁴
• Hepatitis G: Not a lot is known about the hepatitis G virus or even if it causes illness. It may be transmitted through contaminated blood in blood transfusions.¹⁰

The hepatitis B vaccine is effective only for people who have not been infected with the hepatitis B virus. ¹¹

Many countries have access to effective hepatitis B vaccines.¹² Often in these countries, babies are given the vaccine at birth.²

People who have been infected need to visit their medical professionals and learn about the best treatments for controlling the virus.¹

You can only get hepatitis B by coming into contact with the blood or body fluids of someone with the virus.²

Hepatitis B cannot be inherited from your parents. However, pregnant women with hepatitis B can spread the virus to their babies during childbirth.¹