Hepatitis B

What hepatitis B is

Hepatitis B (HBV) is a virus that inflames the liver and can affect liver health in the long term.

A preventable infection

Hepatitis B is one of the few sexually transmitted infections with a preventive vaccine, which makes it truly preventable for those who are vaccinated.

Knowing helps you protect your liver

Because the virus often has no symptoms, understanding and testing matter a great deal in protecting the liver. See the overview of STIs at sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Hepatitis B compared with C

Hepatitis B and C both damage the liver but have differences worth knowing.

Comparing hepatitis B and C

To learn more about C

Hepatitis C has its own specifics, especially that it can be cured. Read more at hepatitis C.

Transmission

Hepatitis B spreads through blood and body fluids in several ways.

Routes of transmission

• through sex, as hepatitis B passes easily
• through blood, such as sharing needles or contact with infected blood
• from mother to child during birth, which is an important route

The risk can be reduced

Getting the vaccine, using condoms, and not sharing needles or sharp objects greatly reduce the risk.

Symptoms

Hepatitis B often shows no symptoms for a long time.

Often no symptoms

Many infected people have no symptoms for years, so they do not know it and the liver is gradually damaged, which is why testing matters.

Symptoms that may appear

If symptoms appear, they can include fatigue, yellow skin and eyes, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, or pain around the liver, and if you have these, see a doctor.

Acute and chronic

Hepatitis B infection is divided into acute and chronic stages.

An important difference

• the acute stage is the early period after infection, and most adults clear it on their own
• the chronic stage is when the virus stays for more than six months, more common in those infected at birth or in childhood

Why it needs care

Chronic infection is the cause of long-term liver damage, and finding and caring for it early helps prevent complications.

Complications

If not cared for, chronic hepatitis B can cause serious complications.

Long-term effects on the liver

• cirrhosis from chronic inflammation
• liver cancer, a serious complication
• liver failure in severe cases

Preventable with care

These conditions usually happen after many years of chronic infection, and finding it early, treating it, and follow-up greatly reduce the risk.

The hepatitis B vaccine

The vaccine is the best way to prevent hepatitis B.

An effective vaccine

The hepatitis B vaccine effectively prevents infection and has been part of routine childhood immunisation in Thailand for many years.

Who should be vaccinated

Newborns should receive the vaccine on schedule, and adults who are not yet immune can also get it. A blood test can tell whether you already have immunity or should be vaccinated, so it is best to ask a doctor about what suits you.

Treatment

Hepatitis B has treatment approaches according to the stage.

Acute and chronic

In the acute stage, most adults clear it on their own with supportive care, while those with chronic infection have antiviral medicine that helps control the virus and reduce liver damage.

Regular follow-up

Although chronic treatment may not fully cure it, it helps maintain good liver health in the long term, so regular follow-up with a doctor is very important in caring for the liver.

Testing

Hepatitis B is tested with a blood test.

How it is tested

A blood test can tell whether you have hepatitis B and whether you already have immunity from the vaccine.

Who should test

Those at risk — such as anyone not yet vaccinated, with a partner who has the infection, or who has shared needles — should consider testing. Testing for hepatitis B alongside HIV and other STIs is a good approach. Read about testing at STI testing.

Prevention

Preventing hepatitis B can be done in several ways that work together.

How to prevent it

• get the hepatitis B vaccine, which is the best method of prevention
• do not share needles or sharp objects, such as syringes, razors, or tattoo equipment
• use condoms to reduce the risk through sex. Read more at condoms

Preventing mother-to-child transmission

Pregnant women should be tested for hepatitis B, because there are ways to prevent transmission to the baby, such as giving the vaccine to the newborn. Read about pregnancy at HIV and pregnancy and having children.

Hepatitis B and HIV

Hepatitis B and HIV are connected in ways worth knowing.

Coinfection

Because hepatitis B and HIV share routes of transmission, coinfection can occur and may make liver disease progress faster, so caring for both together is important.

Some medicines cover both

Some HIV medicines also help control hepatitis B, so people with HIV should test for hepatitis B and consult a doctor about liver care. See the overview at sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

In summary

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and is a major cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. The virus often has no symptoms for a long time, so a blood test is an important way to know your status and protect your liver.

The good news is that hepatitis B is preventable with a highly effective vaccine, and those with chronic infection have medicine to control it and protect the liver. Prevention is possible through the vaccine, not sharing needles, condoms, and testing pregnant women.

If you want to test for hepatitis B, other STIs, or HIV, find and book a clinic at Love2Test.