What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is a disease that damages the liver. Viruses cause
most cases of hepatitis, but alcohol, drugs, and other factors can
also cause the disease.
Hepatitis B can be spread from another person who has the virus.
In the United States, it is most commonly spread by having sex with
an infected person or by sharing a needle. A blood test can tell
you if you have hepatitis.
What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a serious form of hepatitis caused by a virus. It
affects people of all ages around the world. The hepatitis B virus
attacks the liver. The virus can lead to serious illness, liver
damage and, in some cases, death.
How is hepatitis B spread?
Hepatitis B is spread through the blood and body fluids (semen
and fluids from the vagina) of an infected person. The virus can be
spread by:
- Sharing needles with a person(s) infected with hepatitis B
- Having sex with an infected person
- Using an infected person's personal items (such as razors,
toothbrushes, scissors or nail files)
- Being stuck with a needle used by a person infected with
hepatitis B
It also can be passed on from an infected mother to her child at
birth.
The chance of being infected with hepatitis B from receiving
blood transfusions is unlikely because donated blood is tested for
the virus.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis B?
Some people who are infected never feel sick. Others who are
newly infected have symptoms that last for several weeks. Symptoms
include:
- Achy muscles or joints
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Mild fever
- Loose stool (diarrhea)
- Lack of energy
- Constipation
- Yellowing of skin or whites of the eyes
- Being sick to your stomach
- Brown urine
Can a person get more than one form of hepatitis?
Yes. You can get different forms of hepatitis at different
times. For example, if you have had hepatitis A, you can still get
hepatitis B.
Who are hepatitis B carriers?
Hepatitis B carriers are people who have the hepatitis B virus
in their blood, even though they do not feel sick. They can infect
others without knowing it. A blood test can tell you if you are a
hepatitis B carrier.
What is the difference between acute and chronic
hepatitis?
When a person is first infected with hepatitis, they are said to
have "acute" hepatitis. Acute hepatitis can be mild or severe.
Luckily, more than 80 percent of the people infected with hepatitis
recover within six months and no longer have the virus.