Dr. Sabrina Kendrick, Director of the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, talks about Hepatitis B

• What is Hepatitis B?

  Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease that ranges in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. It results from infection with the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B can be either "acute" or "chronic."

  Acute hepatitis B virus infection is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the hepatitis B virus. Acute infection can — but does not always — lead to chronic infection.

  Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is a long-term illness that occurs when the hepatitis B virus remains in a person's body.

• What are the statistics for Hepatitis B?

  In 2006, there were an estimated 46,000 new hepatitis B virus infections in the United States. However, the official number of reported hepatitis B cases is much lower. Many people don't know they are infected or may not have symptoms and therefore never seek the attention of medical or public health officials.

• How common is chronic hepatitis B in the United States?

  In the United States, an estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million persons have chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

• How is Hepatitis B transmitted?

  Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluid infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of a person who is not infected. People can become infected with the virus during activities such as:

  • Birth (spread from an infected mother to her baby during birth)
  • Sex with an infected partner
  • Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment
  • Sharing items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person
  • Direct contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person
  • Exposure to blood from needlesticks or other sharp instruments.
• What are the risk factors for transmission of Hepatitis B?

  Although anyone can get hepatitis B, some people are at greater risk, such as those who:

  • Have sex with an infected person
  • Have multiple sex partners
  • Have a sexually transmitted disease
  • Are men who have sexual contact with other men
  • Inject drugs or share needles, syringes, or other drug equipment
  • Live with a person who has chronic hepatitis B
  • Are infants born to infected mothers
  • Are exposed to blood on the job
  • Are hemodialysis patients
  • Travel to countries with moderate to high rates of hepatitis B
• How do you prevent transmission of Hepatitis B?

  The best way to prevent hepatitis B is by getting the hepatitis B vaccine. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective and is usually given as 3-4 shots over a 6-month period.

• What are the symptoms of Hepatitis B?
  For more detailed information, visit the hepatitis b symptoms page.
• What is the test for Hepatitis B?

  There are many different blood tests available to diagnose hepatitis B. They can be ordered as an individual test or as a series of tests. getSTDtested provides the following test:

  Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) is a protein on the surface of the hepatitis B virus. It can be detected in the blood during acute or chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The body normally produces antibodies to HBsAg as part of the normal immune response to infection.

  A positive test means:
  A person has an acute or chronic hepatitis B virus infection and can pass the virus to others

  A negative test means:
  A person does not have the hepatitis B virus in his or her blood

• What is the Window Period for Hepatitis B?

  On average, symptoms appear 90 days (or 3 months) after exposure, but they can appear any time between 6 weeks and 6 months after exposure.

• Is there a vaccine or treatment for Hepatitis B?

  Yes, there is a vaccine.

  The hepatitis B vaccine series is a sequence of shots that stimulate a person's natural immune system to protect against HBV. After the vaccine is given, the body makes antibodies that protect a person against the virus. An antibody is a substance found in the blood that is produced in response to a virus invading the body. These antibodies are then stored in the body and will fight off the infection if a person is exposed to the hepatitis B virus in the future.

• Who should get vaccinated against hepatitis B?

  Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for:

  • All infants, starting with the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth
  • All children & adolescents younger than 19 years of age old who have not been vaccinated
  • People whose sex partners have hepatitis B
  • Sexually active persons not in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship
  • Persons seeking evaluation or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease
  • Men who have sexual contact with other men
  • People who share needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment
  • People with close household contact with someone infected with hepatitis B
  • Healthcare and public safety workers at risk for exposure to blood or blood-contaminated body fluids on the job
  • People with end-stage renal disease, including predialysis, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and home dialysis patients
  • Residents and staff of facilities for developmentally disabled persons
  • Travelers to regions with moderate or high rates of hepatitis B
  • People with chronic liver disease
  • People with HIV infection
  • Anyone who wishes to be protected from hepatitis B virus infection

  In order to reach individuals at risk for hepatitis B, vaccination is also recommended for anyone in or seeking treatment from the following:

  • Sexually transmitted disease treatment facilities
  • HIV testing and treatment facilities
  • Facilities providing drug-abuse treatment and prevention services
  • Healthcare settings targeting services to injection drug users
  • Healthcare settings targeting services to men who have sex with men
  • Chronic hemodialysis facilities and end-stage renal disease programs
  • Correctional facilities
  • Institutions & nonresidential day care facilities for the developmentally disabled
• Who should get vaccinated against hepatitis B?

  Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for:

  • All infants, starting with the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth
  • All children & adolescents younger than 19 years of age old who have not been vaccinated
  • People whose sex partners have hepatitis B
  • Sexually active persons not in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship
  • Persons seeking evaluation or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease
  • Men who have sexual contact with other men
  • People who share needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment
  • People with close household contact with someone infected with hepatitis B
  • Healthcare and public safety workers at risk for exposure to blood or blood-contaminated body fluids on the job
  • People with end-stage renal disease, including predialysis, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and home dialysis patients
  • Residents and staff of facilities for developmentally disabled persons
  • Travelers to regions with moderate or high rates of hepatitis B
  • People with chronic liver disease
  • People with HIV infection
  • Anyone who wishes to be protected from hepatitis B virus infection
• When should a person get the hepatitis B vaccine series?

  The hepatitis B vaccine for Children and Adolescents: All children should get their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth and complete the vaccine series by 6-18 months of age. All children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not yet gotten the vaccine should also be vaccinated. "Catch-up" vaccination is recommended for children and adolescents who were never vaccinated or who did not get the entire vaccine series.

  The hepatitis B vaccine for Adults: Any adult who is at risk for hepatitis B virus infection or who wants to be vaccinated should talk to a health professional about getting the vaccine series.

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) www.cdc.gov