Hepatitis B Info

Hepatitis B is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. The cause of hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver.

Hepatitis B infections are either acute or chronic. Acute hepatitis B can last from a few weeks to a few months. Most people with acute infection will fully recover and not have any lasting health problems.

Chronic hepatitis B is more serious. A person with chronic hepatitis B may have the disease for life. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to more serious liver disease, including liver cancer. Some 15 to 25 percent of people with chronic hepatitis B will eventually die from liver disease¹. It is urgent that people with or who are at risk of chronic hepatitis B visit their medical professional and get a hepatitis B blood test.

While chronic hepatitis B cannot be cured after infection, a medical professional can prescribe certain medications that can help manage the virus.

The liver is the largest and one of the most important organs in the body. The liver stores fats, sugars, vitamins and other nutrients that your body needs to keep going. It also helps the body get rid of toxins and infections from the blood.

Hepatitis B is caused by a virus. The virus is passed from one person to another by blood and body fluids.

Hepatitis B is 100 times more contagious than HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.² In addition, the hepatitis B virus can survive outside the body for at least seven days and still cause infection.³

Hepatitis B is transmitted from one person to another through blood and body fluids. This can happen during unprotected sex or when sharing needles and syringes with infected persons. People also can get hepatitis B through unclean needles when getting tattoos or body piercings. Barbers can spread the virus when using unclean razors.

Hepatitis B also can be passed from an infected woman to her newborn baby during childbirth. Of these newborns, 80 to 90 percent of them will be born with hepatitis B and will go on to develop chronic hepatitis B.⁴

People who live with an infected person are also at risk and should not share personal items such as razors, toothbrushes or nail clippers.

Medical professionals also are at increased risk for becoming infected and should follow proper procedures for using and disposing needles and blood products.

Yes, there are steps that people can take to avoid getting infected. Answers can be found in the "How Can I Prevent the Transmission of Hepatitis B?" section of this Web site.

People with acute hepatitis B recover completely.

People with chronic hepatitis B will have the infection for life. There is no cure for chronic hepatitis B once infected. However, there are medicines that can help manage the disease. You should ask your medical professional for advice on what medicines would work best for you.

Hepatitis B vaccines are available and given to babies at birth in many countries. However, it is not available in all countries.

A hepatitis B vaccine will not protect you if you have already been exposed to the virus.

The only way to know for sure is to visit your medical professional and get a hepatitis B blood test.