Common STIs - Hepatitis B

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Hepatitis B can be spread through blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk.

Causes

Hepatitis is caused by a virus called Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) that infects the liver.

The term 'Hepatitis' means inflammation of the liver and there are causes other than viruses. There are other hepatitis viruses including hepatitis A, C, D, E, F and G. Hepatitis A, B and C are more common.

Symptoms

You may have no symptoms at all or you may contract a severe illness with jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin), fever, loss of appetite, tiredness and pain in the joints. In extreme cases hepatitis can cause serious liver damage.

Generally the illness lasts for months and passes eventually with rest. Most people are then immune and protected from getting the disease again.

Around 10 per cent of people who get the virus will have it for life. These people become 'carriers' of hepatitis B and they can pass it on to others. They may not know they have the disease.

Chronic carriers may develop liver damage or liver cancer later in their life.

How is it transmitted?

• unprotected vaginal or anal sex without the use of a condom
• sharing any personal injecting equipment. Drug users are particularly at risk
• tattoo and body piercing equipment that has not been sterilised properly
• a woman who is a carrier may pass the infection to her baby during childbirth.

Management

There is no cure for hepatitis B, however, there are new treatments available for people who are carriers.

Prevention

There is a safe, effective vaccine to prevent hepatitis B. This usually involves two or three injections over six months. Any doctor or clinic can arrange hepatitis B vaccination.

The virus can be prevented by using condoms correctly for vaginal or anal sex and by not sharing injecting drug equipment, including spoons, tourniquets and water.

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Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 9 Jun 2009