Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a disease that affects the liver. It is caused by a virus called hepatitis B virus (HBV). The virus enters the body via infected blood or other bodily fluids through unsafe sex, the use of contaminated needles or medical equipment, from an infected mother to her newborn child or from unscreened blood transfusions.
After being exposed to the virus, unvaccinated people develop an acute hepatitis that might become a chronic infection.
Whilst many people have no symptoms or signs when acutely infected, if they occur these can include:
- tiredness
- loss of appetite
- abdominal pain
- nausea
- vomiting
- fever
- joint pain
- jaundice
Many acutely infected people will recover fully from hepatitis B. However, some people can be chronically infected for years without any symptoms with the virus slowly causing damage to the liver which can go unnoticed for a long time until the damage is extensive.
If infected, infants are much more likely to go on and develop a chronic infection than adults. Up to 90% of infants infected with the virus develop chronic infection compared to less than 5% for infected adults.
People with chronic infection are at risk of developing the long-term complications associated with hepatitis B, such as liver cirrhosis or cancer, and are also at risk of transmitting the infection to others.
Hepatitis B is spread through contact with bodily fluids from an infected person. In Europe, the most common ways of contracting the virus are through unprotected sexual contact with someone who is infected with the virus and through injecting drug use with the sharing of contaminated needles.
The virus can survive on surfaces for many days, so it can be spread through objects containing infected fluids, such as used needles, medical equipment and surgical tools that have not been cleaned properly.
Safe and effective hepatitis B vaccines are available that protect against infection. Most European countries have implemented a universal childhood vaccination programme. Chronic hepatitis B can be treated with antiviral therapies to reduce the risk of developing chronic liver disease.
Protective measures include:
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safe sexual practices
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harm-reduction programs for people who inject drugs, including needle exchange programmes and opioid substitution treatment
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blood safety strategies
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maintaining high levels of hygiene and sterilisation in health care facilities as well as tattoo, piercing and acupuncture centres