Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a type of liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus and is one of the most common strains of viral hepatitis.

your quick guide to this page

what is hepatitis B?: Learn what defines hepatitis B and what its general consequences are.
fast facts: Get a quick overview of hepatitis B through statistics and bite-sized facts.
symptoms: Learn about the symptoms of hepatitis B, how to recognize them, and what to do if you experience them.
lifestyle impacts: Find out how hepatitis B impacts your lifestyle.
what can I do?: Discover management and treatment strategies for hepatitis B.
additional resources: Find useful links, education, articles, recipes and more that can help with hepatitis B.

what is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver and can cause inflammation and damage. Some people recover in a few weeks (acute hepatitis B), while others develop a lifelong infection (chronic hepatitis B), which can lead to serious problems like liver scarring, failure, or even cancer. Hepatitis B spreads through blood and certain bodily fluids, like semen or vaginal fluids. It’s not spread through everyday contact like hugging, kissing, coughing, sneezing, or sharing food.

Acute hepatitis B: This is a short-term infection that can be treated by the patient’s immune system alone.
Chronic hepatitis B: This is a long-term infection that occurs when the immune system is unable to fight the viral infection.

How is hepatitis B spread?

From mother to baby during childbirth
Intimate connections with someone who has the virus
Sharing needles, syringes, or drug equipment
Tattooing or piercing with unsterile tools
Sharing razors or toothbrushes with someone infected
Health care workers can be exposed to infected blood

fast facts

Infants infected with hepatitis B have a 90-95% chance of developing a chronic infection.
Hepatitis B vaccine is 95-100% effective in preventing a chronic infection for 30 years.
WHO estimates that 254 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B infection in 2022, with 1.2 million new infections each year.
In 2022, hepatitis B resulted in an estimated 1.1 million deaths, mostly from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer).

symptoms

Hepatitis B is a “silent” disease, as individuals can have show little to no symptoms until the liver is severely damaged. Symptoms can include:

fever
nausea
joint pain
jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin)
dark urine
fatigue
abdominal discomfort
loss of appetite

who is most at risk?

While anyone can get hepatitis B, some people have a higher risk of being exposed to the virus. Recommended recipients of hepatitis B vaccine for pre-exposure prevention include:

Healthcare workers and first responders
People who inject drugs
Sexually active individuals, including men who have intimate connections with men
People born in or travelling to countries where hepatitis B is more common
People who are incarcerated or work in correctional facilities
Anyone who received a blood transfusion before 1992

If you’re in a higher-risk group, taking steps to protect yourself—like getting tested and vaccinated—is a powerful way to care for your health and the health of those around you.

what can I do?

prevention

Get vaccination against Hepatitis B. There is a vaccine to prevent hepatitis B which usually requires three doses over a six month period. Additionally, there is a vaccine that has combined protection against hepatitis A and B.
Practice safe injections. Never share or reuse needles. Make sure all equipment is properly sterilized, even in healthcare or personal care settings.
Practice safe intimate connections. Use barrier methods (like condoms) to reduce the risk of spreading or getting hepatitis B through sexual contact.
Maintain good hygiene. Wash your hands often and avoid sharing personal items like razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers.
Get screened. Regular testing helps detect hepatitis B early so it can be treated and the risk of transmission can be reduced.

How to protect your unborn baby from hepatitis B

If you’re pregnant, it’s important to get tested for hepatitis B at your first prenatal visit. If the virus is detected, your baby can be protected with a vaccine and an injectable medication (HBIG) within 12 hours of birth, followed by completing the full vaccine series in their first 6 months.

diagnosis

A simple blood test can diagnose hepatitis B. It can reveal whether you currently have the virus, had it in the past and cleared it, or have been vaccinated and are protected. Your doctor may also check how your liver is working with blood tests, and may order an ultrasound or liver scan to look for signs of inflammation or scarring.

treatment

Acute hepatitis B

If you have acute hepatitis B, your body will likely fight off the virus on its own. What to do:

Get plenty of rest
Eat well and stay hydrated
Avoid alcohol
Let your immune system do the work

Most people recover fully and develop lifelong protection against hepatitis B.

Chronic hepatitis B

Chronic hepatitis B can be managed with antiviral medications that reduce the amount of virus in the body. While these treatments help control the infection, they do not cure it.

Antiviral medications can:

Lessen the virus in your body
Protect your liver
Reduce the risk of liver cancer and cirrhosis
Give you peace of mind

Common treatments in Canada:

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)
Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)
Entecavir

additional resources

Here are a few questions to ask your doctor or medical team:

What is the condition of my liver?
What treatment is available for hepatitis B?
What lifestyle adjustments should I make to protect my liver health?
What are possible ways I contracted hepatitis B?