Priority Health Issues

• Acute Hepatitis B virus infection: a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the Hepatitis B virus. Acute infection can lead to chronic infection
• Chronic Hepatitis B virus infection: a long-term illness that occurs when the Hepatitis B virus remains in a person’s body

Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluid 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 needlesticks or other sharp instruments

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
• Are exposed to blood on the job
• Are hemodialysis patient
• Travel to countries with moderate to high rates 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)

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 during a 6-month period.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for:

• All infants, starting with the first dose of Hepatitis B vaccine at birth.
• All children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not been vaccinated.
• People whose sex partners have Hepatitis B.
• Sexually active persons who are 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 who have close household contact with someone infected with the Hepatitis B virus.
• Health care 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.