Hepatitis B is one of the five currently known hepatitis viruses. These viruses infect the liver, after which they can cause all sorts of damage. While not all hepatitis viruses can be prevented through immunization, there is a vaccine against hepatitis B — and considering that this virus is spread in much the same way as HIV but with a much higher infectious potential, everyone who can should receive it.
Hepatitis B: A quick primer
The hepatitis B virus is transmitted through blood and semen, along with other bodily fluids. People can become exposed to it by having unsafe sex, sharing IV drug needles, getting a tattoo or piercing in an unsafe setting, through needle-stick injuries as a healthcare worker, or by sharing personal care equipment like razors and toothbrushes, which may contain small traces of infected blood that are nonetheless enough to cause an infection. Infants born to mothers with hepatitis B are also at risk, unless preventative steps are taken.
It's important to know that the hepatitis B virus can stay alive for up to a week even outside the body, which means that blood spills and the like also pose a danger.
The hepatitis B virus is highly infectious, but there is some good news. Not only does a safe and effective vaccine exist, you'll be able to benefit from it even if you have already been exposed to the virus. In combination with hepatitis B immune globulin, receiving the first dose of the vaccine within the first 24 hours after exposure can save you from a hepatitis B infection. Act fast if you even so much as suspect you could have been exposed!
What is the difference between acute and chronic hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B starts off as an acute infection. "Acute", in medical jargon, refers to anything new or sudden — usually things that prove to be short-term. Everyone infected with hepatitis B will start off with the acute stage. The CDC estimates that around 20,900 people across the United States faced such an infection in 2016, while a much lower number of cases, 3,218, were confirmed.
Some will not experience symptoms at all. Others will notice mild and non-specific symptoms such as joint and muscle aches, abdominal upset, reduced appetite, and a slight fever. More rarely, some people with acute hepatitis B will develop more severe symptoms generally associated with liver disease, like:
- Jaundice — a yellowing of the eyes and skin.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Severe fatigue.
- Dark urine.
A small portion of people with an acute hepatitis B infection will go on to experience acute liver failure during this stage, a situation that can become fatal. Many, however, spontaneously eliminate the virus from their bodies within six months and once again become free of hepatitis B. (This doesn't mean you can't catch it again!)
If that doesn't happen, you end up with a chronic hepatitis B infection. The risk of chronic hepatitis B depends on who you are; younger people have a much higher risk of chronic acute hepatitis B. While nine in every 10 infants with acute hepatitis B will go on to suffer a chronic infection, that goes down to two to five in every 10 for kids aged one to five, for instance. Only about five percent of infected adults who were previously healthy will have chronic hepatitis B.
Data from the World Health Organization indicates that between 20 and 30 percent of adults suffering from chronic hepatitis B will eventually develop either cirrhosis or liver cancer. Even chronic infection can be managed, however, with antiviral medications such as tenofovir or entecavir (not always required) and regular medical checkups that enable doctors to act fast if the situation deteriorates. Patients should also steer well clear of anything that puts the liver under extra strain, such as alcohol and medications that are hard on the liver.
With the right care, people with chronic hepatitis B can often live long lives that aren't overshadowed by the infection. They'll always have the virus, however.
In conclusion
Nobody wants hepatitis B, whether acute or chronic. If you haven't got it already but haven't been vaccinated, immunization is your very best chance at avoiding the infection — even if you don't engage in activities that are likely to expose you to hepatitis B.