Is Hepatitis B Contagious?

Hepatitis B infection is transmitted through sexual contact, contact with contaminated blood (for example, through shared needles used for illicit, intravenous drugs), and from mother to child.

• Hepatitis Bis aliverinfection caused by theHepatitis Bvirus (HBV). To avoidconfusion, the termhepatitisB will be used to indicateliver diseaseand HBV will be used to designate the infecting virus.
• HepatitisB can occur as an acute or short-term illness; in other individuals, it may become a chronic infection.
• Chronic infections occur mainly in infected infants (about 90%) while only about 2%-6% of adults become chronically infected; chronic infections may lead tocirrhosisorliver cancer.

A majority of adults who contract hepatitis B have no to mild symptoms, and then the virus resolves spontaneously; however, about 5% of people are not able to eliminate the hepatitis B virus and develop chronic infection.

The signs and symptoms ofhepatitisB vary with age; most children under 5 and immunosuppressed adults do not show symptoms with initial infection. However, individuals about 5 years and older have a 30%-50% chance of having initial signs and symptoms of the infection that may include the following:

• abdominal discomfort
• nauseaand/orvomiting
• fever
• jaundice(yellowish color to the skin and/or to the sclera of the eyes)
• loss of appetite
• clay-colored stools
• dark urine
• joint pain
• fatigue

The incubation period (from the time of exposure to HBV to symptom development) is long forhepatitisB - the average time to onset of symptoms is about 90, days but may range from 60-150 days. Acute hepatitis B symptoms may last from several weeks up to about 6 months. Your physician can confirm hepatitis B infection by studies of the blood; hepatitis B antigens (HBsAg) can be detected as well as antibodies (anti-HBs) that are developed against hepatitis B antigens. Other similar tests are used to determine the individual's infection status.

Hepatitis B is spread person-to-person by methods that usually involve skin puncture or mucosal contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. For example:

• Semen, saliva, sharing needles or syringes, and contact with open sores of an infected person can all facilitate person-to-person spread.
• Indirect spread from items such as razors, toothbrushes, or other items may cause hepatitis B. Unfortunately, HBV is very stable and can remain infective on items like razors or toothbrushes for about one week.
• An infected mother can transfer hepatitis B to hernewbornduring birth.

Fortunately, HBV is not spread through food orbeverages,breastfeeding, casual contact like hugging or handholding, orsneezing(as long as no blood from an infected person accompanies these activities).

并不是所有的肝炎患者B require treatment, which is generally used in more advanced diseases. There are multiple anti-viral agents currently available that are effective in controlling the infection. Your physician will determine if you are a candidate for treatment, and if so, with which agent. Although a commercially available drug is not yet available to cure hepatitis B, researchers in Australia are currently studying an anticancer drug, birinapant. The drug is inclinical trialsto determine its potential ability to cure hepatitis B.

However,vaccinesagainst HBV are available; they contain no live virus and can be given to infants, children, andpregnantfemales; thevaccinescan protect most individuals from getting HBV infection.

Individuals that get infected with HBV and do not remain chronically infected can become HBsAg-negative about 15 weeks after the onset of symptoms. However, patients are advised to consult their physician to interpret the results of HBV blood tests. The majority of adults recover from hepatitis B; after several months they become non-contagiousand are considered to be cured. Unfortunately, about 2% of adults and more than 90% of children under age 1 do not clear the infection and develop chronic hepatitis B infection. For this reason, the HBVvaccineis urged for all infants and for individuals that are exposed to hepatitis B and have not been vaccinated.

Any infant, child, or adult that has not been vaccinated against HBV should be vaccinated; especially if they have had any close association with HBV-infected individuals.

An individual with chronic hepatitis B infection is advised to do the following:

• have follow-ups every 6-12 months to maximize their health,
• get an annualflu shot(influenzavaccination),
• get vaccinated againsthepatitis A, and

Discussdiet, lifestyle changes, and ways to prevent transmission of their disease to others with your healthcare professional.