Hepatitis B

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