Hepatitis B: Symptoms and treatment
Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The first 6 months of a HBV infection is called an acute infection. If the infection lasts for more than 6 months, it is considered a chronic infection.
Hepatitis B spreads through contact with infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids or other bodily fluids. People who live in the same home as someone with hepatitis B might be at risk because they’re often in close contact with them. It can also be passed from a pregnant parent to their baby during pregnancy or birth. Hepatitis B is considered a sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) because it can be passed through sexual or blood contact (sexual partners and drug-use partners).
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Symptoms of Hepatitis B
Many people who are living with acute or chronic hepatitis B have either no symptoms or only mild symptoms.
For those who develop symptoms of an acute hepatitis B infection, symptoms can take 2 to 6 months to appear and can include:
- fatigue
- fever
- joint pain
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- vomiting
- abdominal pain
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- dark urine
- clay-coloured bowel movements
About 90% to 95% of adults with acute hepatitis B will clear the virus on their own within 6 months, and develop lifelong protection against it.
Some people will not clear the virus and go on to have chronic hepatitis B. Children under 4 years are at particular risk of developing chronic hepatitis B. Infants up to 12 months old have a 90% to 95% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B and children between 1 and 4 years old have a 25% to 50% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B.
Most people with chronic hepatitis B are unaware of their infection. Untreated chronic hepatitis B can develop into serious health problems, such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and/or liver cancer, eventually leading to the need for a liver transplant or death.
Testing for Hepatitis B
Talk to your health care provider about getting tested if you think you are at risk for or may have hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B is diagnosed through blood tests. Discuss with your health care provider testing for hepatitis B and screening for other STBBI. It is possible to have more than 1 STBBI at the same time. You can get more information on STBBI testing.
If you are pregnant, you can pass the hepatitis B virus to the baby during pregnancy or childbirth. Screening for hepatitis B is recommended in the first trimester in all pregnancies. You can discuss screening for hepatitis B and other STBBI with your health care provider.
Other tests, such as a liver function tests, can show if any damage has been done to the liver.
If you are diagnosed with hepatitis B, your health care provider or a public health worker may work with you to notify anyone who may have been exposed to the virus (including household members, sexual partners and drug-use partners). This way they can be tested to know if they have hepatitis B, and if not, be offered the hepatitis B vaccine to prevent infection.
If you have questions or want to be tested for hepatitis B and/or other sexually transmitted infections (STI), you can contact your:
- health care provider
- sexual health clinic
- local public health unit
Treating Hepatitis B
Some adults with hepatitis B will recover from the infection on their own within 6 months. Others will not clear the infection and go on to have chronic hepatitis B.
Health Canada has approved several medications to treat hepatitis B and prevent it from getting worse and damaging the liver. For someone with chronic hepatitis B (infection lasting more than 6 months), their health care provider may prescribe medication to treat the hepatitis B infection.
Your health care provider may refer you to the liver specialist or infectious diseases specialist as needed.
Hepatitis B during pregnancy may require treatment. All babies born to someone with hepatitis B should receive the hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulins as soon as possible after birth, and complete their vaccine series before the age of 6 months.
Most children with hepatitis B do not clear the virus. Also, children may require treatment of chronic hepatitis B. There are medications that can be prescribed for young children.
Whether or not you are getting treatment, you can help lower the risk of damage to your liver by: avoiding alcohol, smoking and certain medications, maintaining a healthy weight, and making sure to prevent other infections that affect the liver, such as hepatitis C and hepatitis A. Your health care provider may recommend vaccination against hepatitis A. It is also important to do regular check ups with the health care provider who is monitoring your chronic hepatitis B.
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