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Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is passed by contact with infected blood or other bodily fluids. It causes serious liver infections.

Symptoms include:

• Lack of energy.
• Diarrhea.
• Fever.
• Nausea.
• Jaundice (yellow color to the whites of the eyes or skin).
• Abdominal pain.

Some people who have hepatitis B, especially younger kids, have no symptoms. A small number of hepatitis B infections are rapidly fatal. Although most infected people recover completely, some develop chronic, long-term hepatitis B and can spread the infection. Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver failure are serious risks with this disease, but may take decades to develop.

The virus is spread by direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person. This can happen by sharing needles or having sex with somebody infected with hepatitis B. Transmission can also occur for people living together for a long time in the same household or institution. Infected women can pass the virus to their babies during childbirth. Blood is now tested before a transfusion to prevent the spread of hepatitis B. Medical personnel are at risk of exposure due to needle sticks.

Scientific Term

• Hepatitis B Virus

Generic Term

• Hepatitis B
• Viral hepatitis B

Age Groups at Risk

• Newborns of hepatitis B-positive women
  • Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program
• Asians and Pacific Islanders
  • Hepatitis B Prevention among Asians and Pacific Islanders
• All

Fact Sheets

• Hepatitis B (Department of Health)
• Viral Hepatitis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Vaccine Information

Hepatitis B Vaccine (Department of Health)

• Hepatitis B

Related Information

Department of Health:

• Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program Guidelines (Department of Health)
• Notifiable Conditions: Hepatitis B (Department of Health)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Viral Hepatitis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2006 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• A Comprehensive Immunization Strategy to Eliminate Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Immunization of Health Care Workers: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Alternate Two-Dose Hepatitis B Vaccination Schedule for Adolescents Aged 11-15 Years (MMWR, March 31, 2000, Volume 49, No. 12, Page 26) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• 1995 Update on Recommendations for Hepatitis B Vaccination of Adolescents, Including Asians and Pacific Islanders (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Updated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for Post Exposure Prophylaxis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Immunization Action Coalition:

• Guidelines for Standing Orders in Labor and Delivery and Nursery Units
  to Prevent Hepatitis B Virus Transmission to Newborns (Immunization Action Coalition)

Hepatitis Resources

• American Liver Foundation
  1-800-223-0179
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hepatitis Information Hotline
  1-888-443-7232
• Hepatitis B Foundation
  215-489-4900
• Hepatitis Foundation International
  1-800-891-0707
• Immunization Action Coalition
• Labor and Industries WISHA Services
• Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases
  1-877-557-5437
• PEPLine: 24-hr hotline to advise clinicians re: occupational blood exposures.
  1-888-448-4911
• University of Washington Hepatology Division
  206-598-4956

Last Update: 01/09/2012 10:58 AM