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:
- ENGERIX-B®
- RECOMBIVAX HB®
- HEPLISAV-B™
*To get fully protected against this severe disease, click the link below to schedule an appointment with Immunize-LA today!