Hepatitis B

During the early stage of infection there may not be any symptoms.

If symptoms do develop, this is usually in the first six months after infection. Those who do get symptoms may experience:

• Flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches, loss of appetite, high temperature
• Feeling tired all the time
• Depression
• One in five will experience yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Sickness and diarrhoea.

Most people clear the virus after this initial stage and are then immune to the infection. These people will not be infectious.

Hepatitis B is carried in the blood. It is usually transmitted through blood to blood contact. Examples include:

• Sharing needles when injecting drugs
• A cut in the skin that comes into contact with infected blood
• Use of unsterilized equipment when getting a tattoo or body piercing
• Sharing razors or toothbrushes that are contaminated with infected blood.

Hepatitis B can be transmitted through sex, although this is rare and can be prevented by using a condom.

A mother can pass a hepatitis B infection to a new born baby, but the infection can be prevented if the baby is vaccinated immediately after birth.

You can only be certain you have Hepatitis if you have a test.

A blood test can be taken to detect hepatitis B. If you think you might have hepatitis B, get in touch with your nearest sexual health clinic.

You can find information on the locations and contact details of all axess clinics here.

You should seek immediate medical advice if you think you have been exposed to hepatitis B. It is possible to prevent infection with treatment, but to be most effective it should be given in the first 48 hours after exposure.

Hepatitis B can be managed at home in the early stages, using over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol. You may be prescribed codeine if the pain is more severe.

If you have chronic hepatitis B, you will be symptom-free for much of the time. However, you may need to take medication to prevent liver damage and have regular tests done. There are now very effective medications that can suppress the virus over many years.

There are many ways to prevent transmission of hepatitis B:

• Never share any drug-injecting equipment with other people (not just needles, but also syringes, spoons and filters)
• Do not get tattoos or piercings from unlicensed places
• Do not share razors, toothbrushes, or towels that might be contaminated with blood
• Use a condom, especially with a new partner, for anal and oral sex
• A vaccine is available through the NHS, and is recommended for people who are at risk of infection. This includes people who inject drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men and people whose partners or close family have the virus.

Some people’s body cannot clear the virus and so they will develop a long term infection called chronic hepatitis.

Hepatitis B can lead to problems with your liver, including scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), often years after catching the infection.