Hepatitis B is a liver condition caused by the hepatitis B virus.
About ⅔ of those infected do not know, but for chronic cases, liver failure or other liver conditions may result.
In fact, hepatitis B is a leading cause of liver cancer.
About half of hepatitis B patients in the U.S. are of Asian descent.
What is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection, caused by one of several types of hepatitis viruses.
For patients with acute hepatitis B, the condition lasts less than six months. But if the infection progresses and becomes chronic, symptoms may last more than six months. Chronic hepatitis B also boosts your risk of developing liver failure, liver cancer, or cirrhosis (liver scarring).
The hepatitis B vaccine has proven to be safe and effective in preventing infection.
Acute Hepatitis B vs. Chronic Hepatitis B: Main Differences
Put simply, duration is the differentiating factor. Acute hepatitis B infection typically only lasts a few months. Chronic infections, however, last much longer.
Acute hepatitis B: Infection lasts less than six months, with your immune system clearing the virus from your body to allow for a full recovery. Most hepatitis B patients have an acute infection.
Chronic hepatitis B: Infection lasts six months or longer, lingering when your immune system is compromised or can't fight off the virus. Chronic hepatitis B infection may even last a lifetime, potentially resulting in serious illnesses such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. While some chronic hepatitis B patients do not have any symptoms at all, others may experience persistent fatigue and mild symptoms.
The youngest patients, particularly newborns or children under five years old, face the highest risk of developing a chronic infection. Chronic infection may go undetected for decades until a person becomes seriously ill from liver disease.
Cause
Hepatitis B infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus – one that is transmitted from person to person through blood, semen, or other body fluids. It does not spread by casual contact, such as sneezing or coughing.
Our gastroenterologists have provided a few examples of ways that hepatitis B can spread.
Sexual contact: Unprotected sex with an infected person when bodily fluids enter your body.
Sharing of needles: The virus is easily spread through needles and syringes that have been contaminated with infected blood.
Accidental needle sticks: This transmission method is cause for concern for health care workers in particular.
Mother to child: Pregnant women can pass the virus to their babies during childbirth. If the newborn is vaccinated soon after, it can prevent infection in almost all cases. If you are pregnant or are planning to be, consult your doctor about getting tested.
Risk Factors
These groups of people face an increased risk of getting hepatitis B:
Those who engage in unprotected sex with multiple partners or with someone who's infected
People who share needles during IV drug use
Men who have sex with men
Those who live with someone with a chronic hepatitis infection
Infants born to an infected mother
Workers whose job duties include contact with human blood
Travelers who visit countries with high infection rates
Symptoms
The following symptoms may indicate a hepatitis B infection:
Abdominal pain
Dark urine
Fever
Joint pain
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Weakness and fatigue
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes)
Diagnostic Test
You GI specialist will likely conduct a physical examination, looking for the following:
Enlarged and tender liver
Infected fluid in the abdomen (ascites)
Yellowing of the skin
Your gastroenterologist may order laboratory tests to diagnose and monitor your GI condition:
Abdominal ultrasound
Autoimmune blood markers
Hepatitis virus serologies
Liver function tests
Liver biopsy to check for liver damage
Paracentesis if fluid is found in your abdomen
If you need a diagnostic test for hepatitis, you can schedule an appointment with Charleston GI. Open 5 days a week, no referral needed!
Treatment
For acute hepatitis B, there is no medication needed to recover. Rest and fluids will likely do the trick. For chronic patients, hepatitis B will be routinely monitored to check for early signs of liver disease. Antiviral drugs may be administered as well.
How is hepatitis B transmitted? The virus is transmitted when blood, semen or other body fluids are passed from an infected patient to another person. Here are some examples:
Sex with an infected partner
Sharing needles, syringes, or drug paraphernalia
Infected mother to baby during birth
Sharing personal hygiene items (toothbrushes, razors, etc.)
Needlesticks or other occupational hazards for medical professionals
Direct contact with the blood or open sores of a patient
Can a person spread the hepatitis B virus and not know it?
Absolutely. Many patients do not know that they are infected because they are not showing any symptoms, making it easy to spread the virus.
Can the hepatitis B virus be spread through sex?
Yes, sexual activity is a major mode of transmission. The hepatitis B virus can be found in the blood, semen, and other body fluids of an infected person.
Is there a vaccine for hepatitis?
Yes, the hepatitis B vaccine is available for all age groups. It is strongly recommended for all infants, children, and teenagers under 19 years of age who have not been vaccinated. The vaccine is also available (and recommended!) for adults and the elderly.
Is the hepatitis B vaccine safe?
Yes, the hepatitis B vaccine is perfectly safe. Soreness at the injection site is the most common side effect. Keep in mind that the safety of vaccines is continually being monitored to maintain high quality standards.
Who should not receive the hepatitis B vaccine?
The hepatitis B vaccine is not recommended for those who have had a serious allergic reaction to a prior dose, to any component of the vaccine, or to yeast.
Is hepatitis contagious?
Yes, hepatitis A, B, and C are all highly contagious.
Is it sexually transmitted?
Yes,hepatitis B can spread when someone has sex with an infected person. Keep in mind that sexual contact is not the only way to spread the virus!
Does hepatitis go away?
Yes, hepatitis typically goes away on its own without treatment. Chronic hepatitis, however, may linger long-term and cause liver damage.
Who is most likely to get chronic (long-term) hepatitis B?
When determining if a viral infection becomes chronic, age plays a major role. In fact, the younger a person is when infected, the greater their chance of developing a chronic infection. About nine in ten infants who contract hepatitis B go on to develop a chronic infection.
The risk of infection drops as a child gets older. About one in three children who contract the virus before age six will develop chronic hepatitis B. On the other hand, almost all older children (over age six) and adults infected with the hepatitis B virus recover fully and do not develop a chronic condition.
How long does the hepatitis B virus survive outside the body?
The hepatitis B virus can survive outside the body for at least one week and may cause infection at any time during that period.
Which form of hepatitis is the most dangerous?
Of all five types (A, B, C, D, E), hepatitis B and C are the most dangerous and may become chronic.
How common is hepatitis B in the United States?
In 2018, 3,322 acute cases were reported to the CDC. Since many people do not show symptoms and may not know that they are infected, the actual number of acute hepatitis B cases may, in fact, be closer to 21,600. Even more people – over 800,00 – are estimated to have chronic hepatitis B.
Is the hepatitis B vaccine recommended before international travel?
Yes, the vaccine is highly recommended before traveling, especially to countries where the hepatitis B vaccine is common. And remember, our Charleston GI specialists advise everyone to get vaccinated, even if they are not leaving the country.
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