What I need to know about Hepatitis B

What is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a liver disease. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Inflammation is the painful, red swelling that results when tissues of the body become injured or infected.

What is the liver?
The liver is an organ that does many important things. The liver:
* removes harmful chemicals from your blood
* fights infection
* helps digest food
* stores nutrients and vitamins
* stores energy
You cannot live without a liver.

What causes Hepatitis B?
The hepatitis B virus causes hepatitis B. Viruses are germs that can cause sickness. For example, the flu is caused by a virus. People can pass viruses to each other.

Who gets Hepatitis B?
Anyone can get hepatitis B, but some people are at higher risk, including:
* people who were born to a mother with hepatitis B
* people who live with someone who has hepatitis B
* people who have lived in parts of the world where hepatitis B is common
* people who are exposed to blood or body fluids at work
* people on hemodialysis
* people who have had more than one sex partner in the last 6 months or have a history of sexually transmitted disease
* injection drug users
* men who have sex with men

How could I get Hepatitis B?
You could get hepatitis B through contact with an infected person's blood, semen or other body fluid. You could get hepatitis B from:
* being born to a mother with hepatitis B
* having sex with an infected person
* being tattooed or pierced with unsterilized tools that were used on an infected person
* getting an accidental needle stick with a needle that was used on an infected person
* using an infected person's razor or toothbrush
* sharing drug needles with an infected person

You cannot get hepatitis B from:
* shaking hands with an infected person
* hugging an infected person
* sitting next to an infected person

What are the symptoms of hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B usually has no symptoms. Adults and children ages 5 and older sometimes have one or more of the following symptoms:
* yellowish eyes and skin, called jaundice
* a longer than usual amount of time for bleeding to stop
* swollen stomach or ankles
* easy bruising
* tiredness
* upset stomach
* fever
* loss of appetite
* diarrhea
* light-coloured stools
* dark yellow urine

How can I avoid getting Hepatitis B?
You can avoid getting hepatitis B by getting the hepatitis B vaccine.
Vaccine are medicines that keep you from getting sick. Adults at higher risk of getting hepatitis B and all children should get the vaccine. The hepatitis B vaccine is given through three shots over a period of several months. There is no minimum age for vaccination. The second shot should be given at least 1 month after the first, and the last shot should be given at least 2 months after the second shot but no sooner than 4 months after the first. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe for pregnant women.
You need all three shots to be fully protected. If you are travelling to a country where hepatitis B is common, try to get all the shots before you go. You can also protect yourself and others from hepatitis B if you:
* use a condom during sex
* do not share drug needles
* wear gloves if you have to touch another person's blood
* do not borrow another person's toothbrush, razor or anything else that could have blood on it
* make sure any tattoos or body piercings you get are done with sterile tools
* do not donate blood or blood products if you have hepatitis B