Hepatitis B

What Is It?

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis B remains the most common form of chronic viral hepatitis throughout the world, although immunization programs have reduced the number of cases in the United States. During World War II, doctors recognized that some patients developed hepatitis after receiving injections or blood transfusions. They realized that the infection spreads through contact with infected blood, and called the infection hepatitis B. However, with improved testing methods, it is now extremely rare to contract hepatitis B through a blood transfusion.

In the U.S., hepatitis B typically is spread during sexual activity and through needle sharing among intravenous drug users. The virus also can be transmitted by sharing razors or when being pierced or tattooed in facilities with poor sanitary conditions.

In developing countries, the virus commonly is passed from mother to infant at the time of delivery. It also is spread through contaminated blood transfusions. Worldwide, health care workers continue to be at risk of hepatitis because they are exposed to infected patients, although immunization with the hepatitis B vaccine has decreased the rate of infection in this group.

The hepatitis B virus can cause short-term (acute) hepatitis, which may or may not cause symptoms. Most people will clear the virus from their systems, but a minority will develop a long-term infection called chronic hepatitis, which can range from mild to severe. People with chronic hepatitis remain infectious, and can pass on the virus to others. Some people are not able to rid their body of the infection, but they do not have any symptoms of disease. They are called carriers, and can pass the infection to others.

Symptoms

The symptoms of short-term hepatitis B vary, and can include:

• Loss of appetite

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Fatigue

• Headache

• Fever

These symptoms may be followed by jaundice, an abnormal accumulation of the chemical bilirubin in the blood, which causes yellowing of the eyes, skin and body fluids (such as tears), as well as a darkening of the urine.