What is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease that results from an infection by the Hepatitis B Virus. When first infected, a person can develop an “acute” infection, which can range in severity from a very mild illness with few or no symptoms to a serious condition requiring hospitalisation.
Acute Hepatitis B refers to the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the Hepatitis B virus. Some people are able to fight the infection and clear the virus. For others, the infection remains and leads to a “chronic” or lifelong illness.
Chronic Hepatitis B refers to the illness that occurs when the Hepatitis B virus remains in a person’s body. Over time, the infection can cause serious health problems.
Can Hepatitis B spread through sex?
Yes. Hepatitis B is most commonly spread through sexual contact. The Hepatitis B virus is 50-100 times more infectious than HIV and can be passed through the exchange of body fluids, such as semen, vaginal fluids, and blood.
Symptoms of Acute Hepatitis B:
Not everyone has symptoms with acute Hepatitis B, especially young children. Most adults have symptoms that appear within 3 months of exposure. Symptoms can last from a few weeks to several months and include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Grey-coloured stools
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Jaundice
- Dark urine
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
Symptoms with Chronic Hepatitis B:
Many people with chronic Hepatitis B do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. Even though a person has no symptoms, the virus can still be detected in the blood. Symptoms of chronic Hepatitis B can take up to 30 years to develop. Damage to the liver can silently occur during this time. When symptoms do appear, they are similar to acute infection and can be a sign of advanced liver disease.
How can Hepatitis B be prevented?
The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to get vaccinated.
Who should get vaccinated against Hepatitis B?
Vaccination is recommended for concerned groups, including:
- Anyone having sex with an infected partner
- People with multiple sex partners
- Anyone with a sexually transmitted disease
- Men who have sexual encounters with other men
- People who inject drugs
- People who do lines of drugs with someone with Hepatitis B
- People with chronic liver disease, end stage renal disease, or HIV infection
- Healthcare and public safety workers exposed to blood
- Travellers to certain countries
- All infants at birth
