Hepatitis b

Patients with acute Patients with chronic hepatitis B need to follow a course of treatment. There is no cure, but treatment aims to suppress the virus and reduce the likelihood of long-term complications. Hepatitis B Prevention There are a number of ways to protect against hepatitis B virus: • Hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG). This is an injection you can get if you were in close contact with someone who is infected with hepatitis B. • Hepatitis B vaccine . In the United States, this vaccine is often given at birth and is part of the standard immunization schedule. The vaccine is also recommended for those in high-risk groups, including: • Pregnant women • Health care workers • Intravenous drug users • Men who have sex with men • People with chronic liver disease • People born in areas with high rates of hepatitis B • Those with multiple sexual partners or a history of sexually transmitted disease • HBsAg screening. Pregnant women are screened for the presence of this antigen. Hepatitis B and Pregnancy Because their immune systems aren’t fully developed, infants and young children are more likely to develop chronic hepatitis B, so it’s important to limit their exposure to the virus. All expecting women should be screened for hepatitis B. If a high viral load is detected through testing, your doctor will initiate treatment during your third trimester to reduce the likelihood that your baby will contract the disease during delivery. Additionally, the infants of mothers wit...

Overview Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). For most people, hepatitis B is short term, also called acute, and lasts less than six months. But for others, the infection becomes chronic, meaning it lasts more than six months. Having chronic hepatitis B increases your risk of developing liver failure, liver cancer or cirrhosis — a condition that permanently scars the liver. Most adults with hepatitis B recover fully, even if their symptoms are severe. Infants and children are more likely to develop a long-lasting hepatitis B infection. This is known as a chronic infection. A vaccine can prevent hepatitis B, but there's no cure if you have the condition. If you're infected, taking certain precautions can help prevent spreading the virus to others. Symptoms Symptoms of acute hepatitis B range from mild to severe. They usually appear about 1 to 4 months after you've been infected, although you could see them as early as two weeks after you're infected. Some people, usually young children, may not have any symptoms. Hepatitis B signs and symptoms may include: • Abdominal pain • Dark urine • Fever • Joint pain • Loss of appetite • Nausea and vomiting • Weakness and fatigue • Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, also called jaundice When to see a doctor If you know you've been exposed to hepatitis B, contact your health care provider immediately. A preventive treatment may reduce your risk of infection if you receive the tr...

Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver. It can resolve without treatment, or it may worsen and cause cirrhosis or liver cancer. A vaccine against the virus that causes hepatitis B has been available since the 1980s. For many people, The hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes hepatitis B, and there has been a vaccine against HBV available in the United States since the There are different vaccine series available depending on the age group. For example, infants under 1 year old can receive the vaccine in three or four doses, and those over 1 year can receive a two- or three-dose vaccine series. A person should speak with a doctor to help decide which vaccine series is suitable for them. This article will discuss the different hepatitis B vaccine schedules. It will also look at who should or should not get the vaccine. Share on Pinterest BSIP/Getty Images According to the • Three-dose vaccine series: Medical professionals recommend that all medically stable infants in the U.S. who have a birth weight of at least 2,000 grams receive the first dose of their hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. • Four-dose vaccine series: Combination vaccines, such as the vaccines that feature in this series, protect against various diseases. An infant often receives the first dose of the combination vaccine at 6 weeks of age. This means an infant is not protected against hepatitis B until they are 6 weeks old. Therefore, an infant should receive a dose of the hepatitis B vaccine within...

For some people, the hepatitis B virus causes mild illness and resolves within a few weeks. For others, it is potentially life threatening and can result in lifelong health complications as it inflames and damages the liver. However, some individuals can build immunity to hepatitis B through vaccination. The hepatitis B virus, or HBV, can cause hepatitis B infection in some people. The HBV transmits through contact with blood or other bodily fluids from people who have the virus. It can also be transmitted from birth parent to infant during labor. There is a safe and effective hepatitis B vaccine that helps a person build immunity against HBV infection. Learn more about hepatitis B, including what it means to have immunity and how the hepatitis B vaccine can provide immunity to some people. Share on Pinterest Volanthevist/Getty Images Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by HBV. For some people, HBV infection can Individuals can contract hepatitis B via blood, semen, and other bodily fluids from a person who has the virus. For example, this can happen during birth, through sexual contact, or by sharing needles, syringes, or other drug equipment. People who have HBV may experience the following symptoms: • • • • • The risk of developing chronic HBV depends on the age at transmission. The There are Natural immunity Sometimes, a person’s immune system can clear HBV infection without treatment. Experts are unsure why some people may have a natural immunity to HBV. However, ...

• Pediarix prevents hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis in infants and children ages 6 weeks to 6 years. It is typically given in three doses across six months. • Twinrix prevents hepatitis B and hepatitis A in both children and adults. It is delivered in three doses over six months. Adults can receive four doses of Twinrix on a rapid schedule. • Vaxelis protects children ages 6 weeks to 4 years against tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, and invasive forms of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). It is typically given in three doses with at least four weeks between the first two doses. The third dose should not be given before the age of 6 months. One U.S. study following trends in hepatitis B infection over a three-year period found that 4.3% of the population had a past or present HBV infection. Estimates suggest that about 240 million people around the world have chronic hepatitis B. Up to 1.89 million people in the United States have a chronic HBV infection. Hepatitis B Vaccination Schedule for Adults The following vaccines are currently approved by the FDA for the prevention of hepatitis B: Hepatitis B Vaccination Schedule for Adults Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommended Schedule Engerix-B Three 1 milliliter doses at 0, 1, and 6 months; four 2 milliliter doses at 0, 1, 2, and 6 months (for people undergoing kidney dialysis) Recombivax HB Three 1 milliliter doses at 0, 1, and 6 months Heplisav-B Two 0.5 milliliter doses, one month apar...

Key facts • Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. • The virus is most commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth and delivery, as well as through contact with blood or other body fluids during sex with an infected partner, unsafe injections or exposures to sharp instruments. • WHO estimates that 296 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B infection in 2019, with 1.5 million new infections each year. • In 2019, hepatitis B resulted in an estimated 820 000 deaths, mostly from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer). • Hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccines that are safe, available and effective. Overview Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is a major global health problem. It can cause chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer. A safe and effective vaccine that offers 98% to 100% protection against hepatitis B is available. Preventing hepatitis B infection averts the development of complications including chronic disease and liver cancer. The burden of hepatitis B infection is highest in the WHO Western Pacific Region and the WHO African Region, where 116 million and 81 million people, respectively, are chronically infected. Sixty million people are infected in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, 18 million in the WHO South-East Asia Region, 14 millio...