Hepatitis B

The best way to prevent hepatitis B is by getting the hepatitis B vaccine. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective and is usually given as 3-4 shots over a six month period.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for:

• All infants, starting with the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth.
• All children and adolescents younger than 19 years old 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 sexual contact with other men.
• People who share needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment.
• People who have close household contact with someone infected with the hepatitis B virus.
• Health care 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.
• People with diabetes 19 through 59 years old, and considered for people with diabetes 60 years or older.
• Anyone who wishes to be protected from hepatitis B virus infection.

For Children and Adolescents

All children should get their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth and complete the vaccine series by 6-18 months old. Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all babies so that they will be protected from a serious but preventable disease. Babies and young children are at much greater risk for developing a chronic infection if infected, but the vaccine can prevent this.

All children and adolescents younger than 19 years old who have not yet gotten the vaccine should also be vaccinated. "Catch-up" vaccination is recommended for children and adolescents who were never vaccinated or who did not get the entire vaccine series. Learn more about catching up on vaccines in the Who and When section. 

For Adults

Any adult who is at risk for hepatitis B virus infection or who wants to be vaccinated should talk to a health professional about getting the vaccine series.

Last reviewed: April 2015

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease that ranges in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. It results from infection with the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B can be either “acute” or “chronic.”

“Acute” hepatitis B virus infection is a short-term illness that occurs within the first six months after someone is exposed to the hepatitis B virus. Acute infection can—but does not always—lead to chronic infection.

“Chronic” hepatitis B virus infection is a long-term illness that occurs when the hepatitis B virus remains in a person’s body.

“Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. Toxins, certain drugs, some diseases, heavy alcohol use, and bacterial and viral infections can all cause hepatitis. Hepatitis is also the name of a family of viral infections that affect the liver; the most common types are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are diseases caused by three different viruses. Although each can cause similar symptoms, they have different modes of transmission and can affect the liver differently. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C can also begin as acute infections, but in some people, the virus remains in the body, resulting in chronic disease and long-term liver problems.

Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluid infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of a person who is not infected. People can become infected with the virus during activities such as:

• Birth (spread from an infected mother to her baby during birth).
• Sex with an infected partner.
• Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment.
• Sharing items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person.
• Direct contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person.
• Exposure to blood from needlesticks or other sharp instruments.

Many people with chronic hepatitis B virus infection do not know they are infected since they do not feel or look sick. However, they still can spread the virus to others and are at risk of serious health problems themselves.

Although a majority of adults develop symptoms from acute hepatitis B virus infection, many young children do not. Adults and children over the age of 5 years are more likely to have symptoms. Seventy percent of adults will develop symptoms from the infection.

Symptoms of acute Hepatitis B, if they appear, can include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Dark urine
• Clay-colored bowel movements
• Joint pain
• Jaundice (yellow color in the skin or the eyes)

On average, symptoms appear 90 days (or 3 months) after exposure, but they can appear any time between 6 weeks and 6 months after exposure.

Who gets Hepatitis B?

Although anyone can get hepatitis B, in the United States, certain groups of people are at higher risk, such as those who:

• Have sex with an infected person.
• Have multiple sex partners.
• Have a sexually transmitted disease.
• Are men who have sexual contact with other men.
• Inject drugs or share needles, syringes, or other drug equipment.
• Live with a person who has chronic hepatitis B.
• Are infants born to infected mothers.
• Are exposed to blood on the job.
• Are hemodialysis patients.
• Travel to countries with moderate to high rates of hepatitis B.

The younger a person is when infected with hepatitis B virus, the greater his or her chance of developing chronic hepatitis B. Approximately 90% of infected infants will develop chronic infection. The risk goes down as a child gets older. Approximately 25–50% of children infected between the ages of one and five years will develop chronic hepatitis. The risk drops to 6–10% when a person is infected over five years of age. Worldwide, most people with chronic hepatitis B were infected at birth or during early childhood.

Ready to get vaccinated?

Read more about the hepatitis B vaccine:

• The Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) for the hepatitis B vaccine describes the benefits and risks of the vaccine. These sheets are required to be given each time you receive a vaccine dose.
• FDA vaccine-specific approved prescribing information.
• More information about acute and chronic hepatitis B on the CDC’s Hepatitis B Vaccination Page.
• Prepare for your vaccination visit by reading what to expect.

Going to get vaccinated:

• Find places to get vaccinated in your area.
• Explore resources to help pay for vaccines.

Travel:

• Hepatitis B is more common in some countries than others. Find out if you should be vaccinated before you travel abroad.