UPMC Liver Cancer Center

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Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus.

Most hepatitis B infections clear up, without treatment, within one to two months.

When the infection lasts more than six months, it can develop into chronic hepatitis B, which can lead to:

• chronic inflammation of the liver
• cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
• liver cancer
• liver failure
• death (every year, 5,000 people die as a result of liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus)

Causes of hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

This virus is spread through contact with body fluids of an infected person, such as:

• blood
• semen
• vaginal fluids
• saliva

A woman infected with hepatitis B can pass the virus on to her baby during childbirth.

HBV cannot be spread by:

• sneezing or coughing
• kissing or hugging
• sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses
• breastfeeding
• food or water
• casual contact (such as an office setting)

Risk factors of hepatitis B

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.

Coming in contact with the blood or other body fluids of someone infected with hepatitis B increases your risk for infection. Unlike the hepatitis A virus, HBV is not spread through contaminated food or water.

The following situations may increase your risk of getting hepatitis B:

• having sex with someone infected with hepatitis B or who is a carrier of hepatitis B
• having been born to a mother who had hepatitis B at the time of birth
• injecting illicit drugs, especially with shared needles
• having more than one sexual partner
• being a man who has sex with men
• living in the same house with someone who is infected with hepatitis B and sharing items such as toothbrushes or razors
• having a sexually transmitted disease at the time you come in contact with hepatitis B
• traveling to areas where hepatitis B is common, such as:
  
• China
• southeast Asia
• sub-Saharan Africa
• receiving a blood transfusion prior to 1975 (when a screening test was developed for donated blood)
• being bitten (so that the skin is broken) by someone whose saliva contains the virus

People at risk include:

• those who have jobs that involve contact with body fluids, such as:
  • first aid or emergency workers
  • funeral directors
  • medical personnel
  • dentists and dental assistants
  • firefighters
  • police officers
• employees or patients in hospital or long-term care facilities
• prison employees and prisoners
• hemophiliacs receiving multiple transfusions of blood or blood products (risk is greatly reduced with careful blood screening)
• hemodialysis patients

Note: It is important that all pregnant women get a blood test for hepatitis B early in their pregnancy since the hepatitis B virus can be spread to babies during birth.