What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease that is the result of infection with the Hepatitis B virus. The severity of symptoms for Hepatitis B ranges from a mild illness that lasts only a few weeks, to a serious, lifelong illness.

Hepatitis B infection can be either "acute" or "chronic."

Acute hepatitis B virus infection is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the Hepatitis B virus. Acute infection can — but does not always — lead to chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is a long-term illness that occurs when the hepatitis B virus remains in a person's body.

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis B?

Symptoms of acute hepatitis B, if they appear, can include:

Fever Fatigue Loss of appetite Nausea Vomiting Abdominal pain Dark urine Clay-colored bowel movements Joint pain Jaundice (yellow color in the skin or the eyes)

What are the statistics for Hepatitis B?

In 2006, there were an estimated 46,000 new Hepatitis B virus infections in the United States. However, the official number of reported Hepatitis B cases is much lower than the actual number of infected people. Many people may not have symptoms and don't know they are infected, therefore never seeking the attention of medical or public health officials.

How common is chronic Hepatitis B in the US?

In the United States, an estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million persons have chronic Hepatitis B virus infection.

How is Hepatitis B transmitted?

Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluid that is infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of a person who is not infected. People can become infected with the virus during activities such as:

Birth (spread from an infected mother to her baby during birth) Sex with an infected partner Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment Sharing items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person Direct contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person Exposure to blood from needle sticks or other sharp instruments.

Who is at increased risk for Hepatitis B?

Although anyone can get hepatitis B, some people are at greater risk, such as those who:

Have sex with an infected person Have multiple sex partners Have a sexually transmitted disease Are men who have sexual contact with other men Inject drugs or share needles, syringes, or other drug equipment Live with a person who has chronic hepatitis B Are infants born to infected mothers Have multiple sex partners Are exposed to blood on the job Are Hemodialysis patients Live with a person who has chronic hepatitis B Travel to countries with moderate to high rates of hepatitis B

How do I prevent Hepatitis B from happening to me?

The best way to prevent hepatitis B is by getting the hepatitis B vaccine. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective and is usually given as 3-4 shots over a 6-month period. Most residents of the United States are now required to be vaccinated against Hepatitis B before attending college.


Can you get tested for Hepatitis B?

Yes - there are many different blood tests available to diagnose hepatitis B. Since Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) is a protein on the surface of the Hepatitis B virus, it can be detected in the blood during acute or chronic Hepatitis B virus infection. getSTDtested.com offers a blood test for Hepatitis B, which you can test for at any of our over 2,000 local medical centers across the US.

How soon do symptoms appear after infection?

For most, symptoms appear 90 days (or 3 months) after exposure, but symptoms can appear any time between 6 weeks and 6 months after exposure to the Hepatitis B virus.

Is there a vaccine or treatment for Hepatitis B?

Yes, there is a vaccine.

The Hepatitis B vaccine series is a sequence of shots that stimulate a person's natural immune system to protect against HBV (Hepatitis B Virus). After the vaccine is given, the body makes antibodies that protect a person against the virus. An antibody is a substance found in the blood that is produced in response to a virus invading the body. These antibodies are then stored in the body and will fight off the infection if a person is exposed to the hepatitis B virus in the future.

Who should be vaccinated for Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B vaccination is CDC recommended for:

All infants, starting with the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth All children & adolescents younger than 19 years of age old who have not been vaccinated People whose sex partners have hepatitis B Sexually active persons not in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship Persons seeking evaluation or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease Men who have sexual contact with other men People who share needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment People with close household contact with someone infected with hepatitis B Healthcare and public safety workers at risk for exposure to blood or blood-contaminated body fluids on the job People with end-stage renal disease, including predialysis, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and home dialysis patients Residents and staff of facilities for developmentally disabled persons Travelers to regions with moderate or high rates of hepatitis B People with chronic liver disease People with HIV infection Anyone who wishes to be protected from hepatitis B virus infection

In order to reach individuals at risk for hepatitis B, vaccination is also recommended for anyone in or seeking treatment from the following:

Sexually transmitted disease treatment facilities HIV testing and treatment facilities Facilities providing drug-abuse treatment and prevention services Healthcare settings targeting services to injection drug users Healthcare settings targeting services to men who have sex with men Chronic hemodialysis facilities and end-stage renal disease programs Correctional facilities Institutions & nonresidential day care facilities for the developmentally disabled

When should someone get the Hepatitis B vaccine?

The hepatitis B vaccine for Children and Adolescents: All children should get their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth and complete the vaccine series by 6-18 months of age. All children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not yet gotten the vaccine should also be vaccinated. "Catch-up" vaccination is recommended for children and adolescents who were never vaccinated or who did not get the entire vaccine series.

The hepatitis B vaccine for Adults: Any adult who is at risk for hepatitis B virus infection or who wants to be vaccinated should talk to a health professional about getting the vaccine series.