Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus or HBV. Like hepatitis A, it may start as an acute disease, causing a mild illness that lasts for a few weeks. But in some people, especially infants, the hepatitis B virus lingers, causing a lifelong chronic illness that causes long-term liver problems. Even people who have had the disease for 20 or 30 years without symptoms are at risk for serious liver problems, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other bodily fluid of someone who has it enters the body of someone who doesn't. An infected mother can pass the disease on to her child at birth. You can also get the disease by:
Having unprotected sex with an infected partner, Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug paraphernalia, Using something that may contain an infected person's blood, such as a razor or toothbrush, Coming in direct contact with the blood of someone who has the disease, Being exposed to blood from needle sticks or other sharp instruments.
Hepatitis B is not spread through food or water, and you can't get it from sharing eating utensils, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. And if you are an infected mother, you can't pass it on to your child through breastfeeding.
Symptoms:
Children younger than age 6 who have hepatitis B often have no symptoms. In older children and adults, symptoms of acute hepatitis B include:
Fever, Fatigue, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Vomiting, Abdominal pain, Dark urine, Clay-coloured bowel movements, Joint pain, Jaundice
Close to 90% of infants who become infected with HBV will develop chronic hepatitis B and carry the disease with them for life.
Vaccine:
Hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective and is usually given as 3-4 shots over a 6-month period.
Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for:
All infants, starting with the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth, All children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not been vaccinated, People whose sex partners have hepatitis B, Sexually active persons who are 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 who have close household contact with someone infected with the hepatitis B virus, Health care 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, Travellers 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.
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. Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all babies so that they will be protected from a serious but preventable disease. Babies and young children are at much greater risk for developing a chronic infection if infected, but the vaccine can prevent this. All children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not yet gotten the vaccine should also be vaccinated.
Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus or HBV. Like hepatitis A, it may start as an acute disease, causing a mild illness that lasts for a few weeks. But in some people, especially infants, the hepatitis B virus lingers, causing a lifelong chronic illness that causes long-term liver problems. Even people who have had the disease for 20 or 30 years without symptoms are at risk for serious liver problems, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other bodily fluid of someone who has it enters the body of someone who doesn't. An infected mother can pass the disease on to her child at birth. You can also get the disease by:
Having unprotected sex with an infected partner, Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug paraphernalia, Using something that may contain an infected person's blood, such as a razor or toothbrush, Coming in direct contact with the blood of someone who has the disease, Being exposed to blood from needle sticks or other sharp instruments.
Hepatitis B is not spread through food or water, and you can't get it from sharing eating utensils, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. And if you are an infected mother, you can't pass it on to your child through breastfeeding.
Symptoms:
Children younger than age 6 who have hepatitis B often have no symptoms. In older children and adults, symptoms of acute hepatitis B include:
Fever, Fatigue, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Vomiting, Abdominal pain, Dark urine, Clay-coloured bowel movements, Joint pain, Jaundice
Close to 90% of infants who become infected with HBV will develop chronic hepatitis B and carry the disease with them for life.
Vaccine:
Hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective and is usually given as 3-4 shots over a 6-month period.
Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for:
All infants, starting with the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth, All children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not been vaccinated, People whose sex partners have hepatitis B, Sexually active persons who are 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 who have close household contact with someone infected with the hepatitis B virus, Health care 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, Travellers 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.
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. Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all babies so that they will be protected from a serious but preventable disease. Babies and young children are at much greater risk for developing a chronic infection if infected, but the vaccine can prevent this. All children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not yet gotten the vaccine should also be vaccinated.
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