Hepatitis B
Also called: HBV
A viral infection of the liver spread by blood, sex and from mother to baby. Most adults clear it, but infection in infancy usually becomes chronic and can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
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About 250 million people live with chronic hepatitis B.
Causes
- Hepatitis B virus
Risk factors
- Birth to an infected mother
- Unprotected sex
- Sharing needles
- Unsafe medical procedures and transfusions
- Living in endemic regions
Symptoms
- Acute: fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice
- Chronic: usually no symptoms until liver damage
Diagnosis — tests and examinations
- HBsAg, anti-HBc, HBeAg and HBV DNA blood tests
- Liver function and elastography
Treatment
Medicines and medical treatment
- Long-term antivirals (tenofovir or entecavir) suppress the virus
- Peginterferon in selected patients
- Liver cancer surveillance
Operations and procedures
- Liver transplantation for end-stage disease
Self-care, home remedies and lifestyle
- Avoid alcohol
- Vaccinate close contacts
- Practise safe sex
Possible complications
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Acute liver failure (rare)
Prevention
- Hepatitis B vaccine (including at birth)
- Screening in pregnancy with vaccine and immunoglobulin for the baby
- Safe injecting and sex
Outlook
Well controlled with antivirals; functional cure is uncommon.
When to see a doctor
Get tested if you are at risk or pregnant; see a doctor for jaundice.
Sources and further reading
These sources cover this condition. They have not been checked against every statement on this page.
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