What Is Hepatitis B? (CDC.com)

Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluids from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. This can happen through sexual contact; sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment

Symptoms:

  • fever
  • fatigue
  • loss of appetite
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • abdominal pain
  • dark urine
  • clay-colored stool
  • joint pain
  • jaundice.

How Is Hepatitis B transmitted?

Hepatitis B is transmitted through activities that involve percutaneous (i.e., puncture through the skin) or mucosal contact with infectious blood or body fluids (e.g., semen and saliva) including

  • sex with an infected partner;
  • injection-drug use that involves sharing needles, syringes, or drug-preparation equipment;
  • birth to an infected mother;
  • contact with blood from or open sores on an infected person;
  • exposures to needle sticks or sharp instruments; and sharing with an infected person

People at Increased Risk For Hepatitis B

  • Sex partners of infected people
  • Men who have sex with men
  • People who inject drugs
  • Household contacts or sexual partners of known people with chronic HBV infection
  • Health-care and public-safety workers at risk for occupational exposure to blood or blood-contaminated body fluid



How Is Hepatitis B Prevented?

Vaccination with one of the three single-antigen vaccines currently licensed in the United States.

Single-antigen hepatitis B vaccines:

  1. ENGERIX-B®
  2. RECOMBIVAX HB®
  3. HEPLISAV-B™

*To get fully protected against this severe disease, click the link below to schedule an appointment with Immunize-LA today!