About Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is:

• A "silent disease." It can live in your body for 50+ years before you have symptoms.
• Responsible for 80 percent of all liver cancer in the world.
• Harder to fight off the younger you are; 90 percent of babies will go on to develop a chronic infection compared to 5 to 10 percent of adults.
• 100 times more contagious than AIDS.
• Responsible for approximately 600,000 deaths worldwide each year.
• The tenth leading cause of death worldwide.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 240 million people worldwide have chronic hepatitis B, and more than 1.25 million of these people are in the U.S.

Fortunately, the virus can be prevented with the hepatitis B vaccine.

A Dangerous Disease

A chronic hepatitis B infection can go undetected for years – even decades in many cases. The longer a hepatitis B infection is left untreated, the more susceptible you are to developing severe scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) and liver cancer.

How do you get it?

The hepatitis B virus is transmitted when an infected person’s blood or body fluids (such as saliva or semen) enter your bloodstream.

Ways hepatitis B is spread:

• Sharing IV needles
• Unprotected sex
• Sharing razors or toothbrushes
• From mother to newborn during the delivery process

In the U.S., hepatitis B is spread primarily through sexual transmission and contaminated needles. In other areas of the world, such as Asia or sub-Saharan Africa, hepatitis B is spread through birth.

Hepatitis B is not a genetic disease, although a majority of chronic infections occur by transmission from mother to baby at the time of birth. Also, it cannot be transmitted:

• Through food or water
• By hugging
• Through sneezing or coughing

Acute vs. Chronic Infection

A hepatitis B infection can be temporary (acute) or long-lasting (chronic).

Frequently asked questions about hepatitis B. 

Symptoms

Known as a silent infection, nearly 70 percent of people who first become infected with hepatitis B do not have symptoms.

The other 30 percent of people may experience:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Dark urine

Symptoms such as yellow skin, swollen stomach and severe vomiting require immediate medical attention.

Diagnosis

A hepatitis viral panel (series of blood tests) is used to diagnose a hepatitis B infection. These blood test also establish if the infection is acute or chronic.

These tests are looking for the presence of HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen), a protein found on the surface of hepatitis B. The presence of HBsAg indicates a current hepatitis B infection.

Acute hepatitis B: An acute infection is characterized by the presence of both HBsAg and immunoglobulin M (IgM). IgM is an antibody produced by your immune system.

Chronic hepatitis B: If IgM is not present, and HBsAg has been in your body for six months or longer, it is likely that the infection is chronic.

If you have a chronic infection, your doctor may check for liver damage with liver function tests (blood), an ultrasound of the liver and newer tests such as fibroscan.

Hepatitis D Screening

If a hepatitis B infection is determined, you will then be tested for hepatitis D. Hepatitis D is prevalent in some areas of the Middle East, Central Asia, South Pacific islands and the Mediterranean Basin.

Hepatitis D is a serious liver disease found only in people with hepatitis B. A coinfection with hepatitis D can accelerate liver damage and worsen symptoms of hepatitis B.