Hepatitis B, pronounced – HEP-ah-TY-tis B, is a liver disease.

Hepatitis makes your liver swell and stops your liver from working right.

You need a healthy liver. The liver does many things to keep you alive. The liver fights infections and stops bleeding. It removes drugs and other poisons from your blood. The liver also stores energy for when you need it.

Causes of Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is caused by a virus.

A virus is a germ that causes sickness. For example, the flu is caused by a virus. People can pass viruses to each other. The virus that causes hepatitis B is called the hepatitis B virus.

How Hepatitis B Spreads

Hepatitis B spreads by contact with an infected person’s blood, semen, or other body fluid. You could get hepatitis B by:

• Having sex with an infected person without using a condom.
• Sharing drug needles.
• Having a tattoo or body piercing done with dirty tools that were used on someone else.
• Getting pricked with a needle that has infected blood on it – health care workers can get hepatitis B this way.
• Living with someone who has hepatitis B.
• Sharing a toothbrush or razor with an infected person.
• Traveling to countries where hepatitis B is common.
• An infected woman can give hepatitis B to her baby at birth.

You can NOT get hepatitis B by:

• Shaking hands with an infected person.
• Hugging an infected person.
• Sitting next to an infected person.

Symptoms of Hepatitis B

Some people with hepatitis B don’t have symptoms, but some people with hepatitis B feel like they have the flu. You might:

• Feel tired
• Feel sick to your stomach
• Have a fever
• Not want to eat
• Have stomach pain
• Have diarrhea

Some people have:

• Dark yellow urine
• Light colored stools
• Yellowish eyes and skin

If you have symptoms or think you might have hepatitis B, go to a doctor.

Tests for Hepatitis B

To check for hepatitis B, the doctor will test your blood. These tests show if you have hepatitis B and how serious it is.

The doctor may also do a liver biopsy (BYE-op-see). A biopsy is a simple test. The doctor removes a tiny piece of your liver through a needle. The doctor checks the piece of liver for signs of hepatitis B and liver damage.

Treatment for Hepatitis B

Treatment for hepatitis B may involve shots of medicine:

• A drug called interferon (in-ter-FEAR-on). It is given through shots. Most people are treated for 4 months.
• A drug called lamivudine (la-MIV-you-deen). You take it by mouth once a day. Treatment is usually for one year.
• A drug called adefovir dipivoxil (uh-DEH-foh-veer dih-pih-VOX-ill). You take it by mouth once a day. Treatment is usually for one year.
• Surgery. Over time, hepatitis B may cause your liver to stop working. If that happens, you will need a new liver. The surgery is called a liver transplant. It involves taking out the old, damaged liver and putting in a new, healthy one from a donor.

Protect Yourself From Hepatitis B

You can get the hepatitis B vaccine. Vaccines protect you from getting hepatitis B.

A vaccine is a drug that you take when you are healthy that keeps you from getting sick. Vaccines teach your body to attack certain viruses, like the hepatitis B virus.

The hepatitis B vaccine is given through three shots. All babies should get the vaccine. Infants get the first shot within 12 hours after birth. They get the second shot at age 1 to 2 months and the third shot between ages 6 and 18 months.

Older children and adults can get the vaccine, too. They get three shots over 6 months. Children who have not had the vaccine should get it.

You need all of the shots to be protected. If you are traveling to other countries, make sure you get all the shots before you go. If you miss a shot, call your doctor or clinic right away to set up a new appointment.

You can also protect yourself and others from hepatitis B if you:

• Use a condom when you have sex.
• Don’t share drug needles with anyone.
• Wear gloves if you have to touch anyone’s blood.
• Don’t use an infected person’s toothbrush, razor, or anything else that could have blood on it.
• Make sure any tattooing or body piercing is done with clean tools.

For More Information About Hepatitis B

American Liver Foundation (ALF)
75 Maiden Lane, Suite 603
New York, NY 10038
Phone: 1-800-GO-Liver (465-4837)
1-888-4HEP-USA (443-7872), or 212-668-1000
Fax: 212-483-8179
Email: info@liverfoundation.org
Internet: www.liverfoundation.org

Hepatitis B Foundation
700 East Butler Avenue
Doylestown, PA 18901-2697
Phone: 215-489-4900
Fax: 215-489-4920
Email: info@hepb.org
Internet: www.hepb.org

Hepatitis Foundation International (HFI)
504 Blick Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20904-2901
Phone: 1-800-891-0707 or 301-622-4200
Fax: 301-622-4702
Email: hfi@comcast.net
Internet: www.hepfi.org

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
2 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3570
Phone: 1-800-891-5389
TTY: 1-866-569-1162
Fax: 703-738-4929
Email: nddic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov

Source: digestive.niddk.nih.gov – December 2006