Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is a highly contagious virus that primarily spreads through contact with infected blood, semen, or other body fluids. Unlike some other forms of hepatitis, Hepatitis B is not spread through food, water, or casual contact such as sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing.

How Hepatitis B Is Spread
HBV can be transmitted through several routes, including:

  • Unprotected sexual contact: With an infected partner.
  • Needle sharing: Among individuals who inject drugs.
  • Mother-to-child transmission: During childbirth, particularly in regions where HBV is common.
  • Exposure to infected blood: Through needlestick injuries, medical procedures with unsterilized equipment, or sharing items like razors or toothbrushes contaminated with infected blood.
  • Blood transfusions: In rare cases, particularly in settings with inadequate blood screening.

Acute vs. Chronic Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B infections can present in two forms:

  1. Acute Hepatitis B
    • Acute infections occur within the first six months after exposure to HBV.
    • Most healthy adults and older children infected with HBV experience a short-term illness and are able to clear the virus from their bodies.
    • Symptoms may include fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). In some cases, acute HBV infections are asymptomatic.
    • Recovery typically leads to lifelong immunity against HBV.
  2. Chronic Hepatitis B
    • Chronic infections develop when the body is unable to clear the HBV, allowing it to persist in the liver.
    • Chronic HBV infections are more common in younger individuals, particularly infants and young children.
      • Infants: About 90% of infants infected at birth develop chronic HBV.
      • Young children: Around 30% of children infected before age 6 become chronically infected.
      • Older children and adults: Less than 5% of infections result in chronic hepatitis B.
    • Chronic HBV can lead to serious health complications, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver failure, or liver cancer.

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