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What is hepatitis-B?

Hepatitis (Hep-ah-TY-tis) makes your liver swell and stops it from working right. You need a healthy liver. The liver does many things to keep you alive. The liver fights infections and extract drugs and other poisons from your blood. The liver also stores energy and release it when you need it.

What cause hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is caused by a virus.
A virus is a germ that causes sickness. (For examples, the flu is caused by a virus.) People can pass viruses to each other. The virus that causes hepatitis B is called the hepatitis B virus.

How could I get hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is spread by contact with an infected person’s blood, semen, or other body fluid. You could get hepatitis B by
  • Having sex with an infected person without using a condom
  • Sharing drug needles
  • Having a tattoo or body piercing done with dirty tools that were used on someone else.
  • Getting pricked with a needle that has infected blood on it ( Health care workers can get Hepatitis B this way)
  • Living with someone who has Hepatitis B
  • Sharing a toothbrush or razor with an infected person
  • An infected women can give Hepatitis B to her baby at birth or through her breast milk

You cannot get Hepatitis B by
  • Shaking hand with infected person
  • Hugging an infected person
  • Sitting next to an infected person 

What are the symptoms?

Hepatitis B can make you feel like you have the flu.
You might
  • Feel tired
  • Feel sick to your stomach
  • Have fever
Some people have
  • Dark yellow urine,
  • Light colored stools
  • Yellowish eyes and skin
Some people don’t have any symptoms.

If you have symptoms or think you might have hepatitis B, go to a doctor.

What are the tests for hepatitis B?

To check for Hepatitis B, the doctor will test your blood.
These tests show if you have hepatitis B and how serious it is.

The doctor may also do a liver biopsy?

A biopsy (BYE-op-see) is a simple test. The doctor removes a tiny piece of your liver trough a needle. The doctor checks the piece of liver for signs of hepatitis B and liver damage.

How can I protect myself?

You can get the hepatitis B vaccine.
A vaccine is a drug that you take when you are healthy and protect from getting sick. Vaccines in your body attack certain viruses, like the hepatitis B virus and kill them.

The hepatitis B vaccine is given through three shots. All babies should get the vaccine. Infants get the first shot within 12 hours after birth. They get the second shot at age of 1 to 2 months and the third shot between ages 6 and 18 months.
Older children and adults can get the vaccine, too. They get three shots over 6 months. Children who have not had the vaccine should get it.

You need all of the shots to be protected. If you are traveling to other countries, make sure you get all the vaccine shots before you go. If you miss a shot, call your doctor, or clinic right away to set up a new appointment.

You can also protect yourself and others from Hepatitis - B if you:-

  • Use a condom when you have sex.
  • Don’t share drug needles with anyone.
  • Wear gloves if you have to touch anyone’s blood.
  • Don’t use an infected person’s toothbrush, razor or anything else that could have blood on it.
Make sure any tattooing or body piercing is done with clean tools.