Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease.

Treatment

While there is no medication available to treat acute Hepatitis B infection, treatment during an acute infection generally manages any symptoms and may require hospitalization. Antiviral drugs are available for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis B, but often these medications do not cure a person but rather help to slow the progression towards more serious liver disease such as cirrhosis.

Prevention

The Hepatitis B vaccine is a series of shots that stimulate a person's natural immune system to protect against Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for:

• All infants, starting with the first dose at birth
• All children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not been vaccinated
• People whose sex partners have Hepatitis B
• Sexually active persons who are not in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship
• Persons seeking evaluation or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease
• Men who have sex with other men
• People who share needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment
• People who have close household contact with someone infected with Hepatitis B
• Healthcare and public safety workers at risk for exposure to blood or blood-contaminated body fluids on the job
• People with end-stage renal disease, including predialysis, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and home dialysis patients
• Residents and staff of facilities for developmentally disabled persons
• Travelers to regions with moderate or high rates of Hepatitis B
• People with chronic liver disease
• People with HIV infection
• Anyone who wishes to be protected from Hepatitis B virus infection