HiTOPS.org ~ Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B

What is it?

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus. Most infected people get well, but sometimes hepatitis B can lead to liver cancer and cause death.

How do you get it?

The hepatitis B virus lives in body fluids, for example: blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and saliva. Hepatitis B spreads easily from person to person through body fluids. You can get it by:

Having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus.
Sharing needles, ear-piercing, tattoo, and injection needles can all spread the virus.
Being born to a mother who has the virus in her body.

Incubation period

The incubation time for Hepatitis B is from 10 days to 3 months. The average incubation period is 21 days.

Symptoms

Yellow skin or eyes
Joint pain
Feeling very tired
Dark urine
Fever
Skin rash
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Stomach pain
Liver pain (upper right side of belly, nausea, and vomiting just below rib cage)
Swollen glands
No symptoms

Diagnosis

A simple blood test can tell if you have hepatitis B now or have had it in the past. Some people have no symptoms, so get tested right away if you think you've been exposed.

Treatment

There is no cure for hepatitis B. There is a vaccination that will protect you from getting it. The vaccination is given in three shots over a 6-month period.

If you are exposed to hepatitis B and have not been vaccinated, you can get a special shot right away to help you. You will also be vaccinated at that time.

What happens if you don't get treated?

Some people who get hepatitis B may get well on their own. Others may get well but still have the virus in their bodies. So even though they feel fine, they can pass the virus on to others. Sometimes the virus can damage the liver and lead to liver cancer or death.

Note: All sexual partners of anyone treated for an STD must also be treated. If you are treated for an STD and do not tell your partner(s) to get treatment, the STD will spread rapidly and you could be re-infected. Using a condom every time you have sex can help keep you well.