Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a liver infection spread through blood and body fluids. In the UK, the chance of catching it is low.
It often causes no symptoms in adults and usually clears up on its own within a few months. In children, it often lasts for years and can eventually lead to serious liver damage.
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
Speak to your GP practice if:
- you think you may have been exposed to the hepatitis B virus. Emergency treatment given within a few days of exposure can help stop the infection from taking hold
- you have symptoms of hepatitis B
- you are at high risk of hepatitis B
Emergency treatment
If you have been exposed to the virus in the last few days, getting emergency treatment quickly can help prevent you from becoming infected.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing hepatitis B
A blood test can check if you have hepatitis B or have had it in the past. The hepatitis B vaccine may also be recommended to reduce your risk of infection.
Treatment
Treatment for hepatitis B depends on how long you have had the infection.
Treatment for acute hepatitis B
Acute hepatitis B means the infection has been there for only a few weeks or months. In this stage, you may just need treatment to ease your symptoms while your own body clears the infection.
Treatment for chronic hepatitis B
Chronic hepatitis B means the infection has lasted more than 6 months. Here, doctors may give you medicines to keep the virus under control and lower the risk of liver damage.
Chronic hepatitis B often needs:
- long term or lifelong treatment
- regular check ups to watch for any further liver problems
How does hepatitis B spread?
The hepatitis B virus lives in the blood, semen, vaginal fluids and other body fluids of an infected person.
It can spread through:
- a mother passing it to her newborn baby, especially in places where the infection is common
- contact within families, from child to child, where the infection is common
- injecting drugs and sharing needles or other equipment such as spoons and filters
- having sex with an infected person without a condom
- getting a tattoo, body piercing, or medical or dental treatment with equipment that has not been sterilised
- sharing toothbrushes, razors or scissors that carry infected blood
Hepatitis B does not spread through kissing, holding hands, hugging, coughing, sneezing, or sharing plates and utensils.
Prevention
A vaccine that protects against hepatitis B is given to all babies born in the UK on or after 1 August 2017. It's also offered to people at high risk of the infection or its complications.
People at high risk of hepatitis B
People at high risk include:
- babies born to mothers with hepatitis B
- close family and sexual partners of someone with hepatitis B
- people travelling to a part of the world where hepatitis B is widespread
- families adopting or fostering children from high-risk countries
- people who inject drugs, or whose sexual partner injects drugs
- people who change their sexual partner often
- men who have sex with men
- male and female sex workers
- people whose job puts them at risk of contact with blood or body fluids, such as nurses, prison staff, doctors, dentists and laboratory staff
- people with chronic liver disease
- people with chronic kidney disease
- people in prison
- people receiving regular blood or blood products, and their carers
Hepatitis B core antibody (anti HBc) testing
This is an extra check used to improve testing for blood donors and further increase the safety of the blood supply chain.
Only a small number of donors are affected, but these donors will no longer be able to donate.
Complications
Hepatitis B: Complications
Along with the treatment your doctor gives you, there are things you can do yourself to feel better and to keep the infection from spreading to people around you.
Things that help
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
- Rest and drink plenty of fluids.
- Painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can ease discomfort. Check with your doctor about the right paracetamol dose, since you may need to take less than usual.
- If your skin feels itchy, keep your room airy, wear loose clothes, and avoid hot showers and baths.
- Talk to your doctor if you are planning to have a baby.
Things to avoid
- Do not have unprotected sex, including anal and oral sex.
- Do not drink alcohol, as it raises your risk of serious liver problems.
- Do not share toothbrushes, razors or needles with anyone else.
People close to you, such as family members, may need to be vaccinated.
Possible complications
Most people recover from hepatitis B without any lasting effects. In some patients, though, chronic hepatitis B can damage the liver over time, leading to cirrhosis, and it raises the risk of liver cancer.
Because of this, everyone with chronic hepatitis B should stay under the care of a specialist clinic. When needed, treatment can keep the infection under control and prevent these serious complications.
A related concern
Hepatitis B is more common among people living with HIV. So if you are diagnosed with hepatitis B, you should also be offered a test for HIV. If that has not happened yet, you can:
- ask your healthcare provider to arrange an HIV test
- get a free test through one of the available options
Testing for HIV alongside hepatitis B allows problems to be caught early, treated properly, and helps prevent passing the infection on to others.