Fact 1: You cannot get infected with hepatitis B by talking, holding hands, hugging or eating food prepared by someone who is infected with hepatitis B. Hepatitis B does not spread through sneezing, coughing or during casual interaction with infected people.

Hepatitis B is found in the blood and body fluids of someone with the infection. You can only get hepatitis B through direct contact with the blood and body fluids of someone with the virus. Click here for more information.

Fact 2: You can only get hepatitis B if the infected blood or body fluids of someone with the virus gets into your bloodstream. Click here for more information.

Hepatitis B cannot be inherited from your parents. However, pregnant women with hepatitis B can spread the virus to their babies during childbirth.

Fact 3: Hepatitis B is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. Some 350 million people worldwide have chronic hepatitis B,¹ meaning they have a serious form of the disease that can lead to serious liver disease and liver cancer. More than 75% of the people with chronic hepatitis B come from the Asia-Pacific region.²

Any person from a high-risk region of world, including the Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, India and Africa, who doesn’t know if they have hepatitis B should be tested for hepatitis B infection . Many adults living in these regions may have had the virus active in their liver since birth or early childhood, and it could convert to active liver disease at any age. It is essential that people who are at risk for hepatitis B visit their doctors and get tested.

Fact 4: Many people with hepatitis B do not feel sick. About 50% to 70% of the people who are infected with the virus do not show any signs or symptoms acute of hepatitis B.³ The only way to know if you have hepatitis B is to ask your doctor. He or she can do a hepatitis B blood test to find out for sure.

Fact 5: Hepatitis B infections are either acute or chronic. Acute hepatitis B can last from a few weeks to a few months. Chronic hepatitis B is more serious than acute hepatitis B. A person with chronic hepatitis B may have the disease for life. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to more serious liver disease, including liver cancer.

The risk of progressing to chronic hepatitis B depends on the age at which infection first occurs. Approximately 10% of adults, up to 50% of children, and 90% of babies who become infected with the hepatitis B virus will not get rid of it, and will develop chronic infection.¹

Some 15 to 25% of people with chronic hepatitis B will eventually die from complications of the infection.⁴

Fact 6: People with chronic hepatitis B infection should see a doctor regularly, even if they feel fine. Although some people may experience nausea, tiredness, poor appetite or weight loss, many people do not show any symptoms. This does not mean that the virus is not causing damage to your liver. Getting proper and early medical care can reduce the chance of chronic hepatitis B causing serious problems, such as liver damage and liver cancer.

Therefore, if you have chronic hepatitis B, you should see your doctor regularly. The doctor will check if your liver is working normally. Several medicines are available to treat hepatitis B. Your doctor will decide if you need to take medication and which type of medicine is best for you. The right medical care can help people with chronic hepatitis B live a full and productive life.

Fact 7: There are several different types of hepatitis and each is caused by a different virus. Hepatitis B won’t turn into another type of hepatitis. However, people with the hepatitis B virus are still at risk for infection with one of the other hepatitis viruses.

• Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. It is generally spread by coming into contact with infected faecal matter. This happens because of poor sanitary habits and ingestion of contaminated food or drinks.
• Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus and is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. It is passed from one person to another through blood and body fluids.
• Hepatitis C: Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus. It is generally spread through blood transfusions and illegal injection drug use. In most countries, donated blood is now checked for the virus before it is given to someone.
• Hepatitis D: Hepatitis D is caused by the hepatitis D virus. The hepatitis D virus needs the hepatitis B virus to survive. Sometimes, people with hepatitis B also get hepatitis D because both are passed from one person to another through blood and body fluids.
• Hepatitis E: Hepatitis E is caused by the hepatitis E virus. Similar to the hepatitis A virus, it is spread by coming into contact with infected faecal matter and ingestion of contaminated food or drinks.
• Hepatitis G: Not a lot is known about the hepatitis G virus or even if it causes illness. It may be transmitted through contaminated blood in blood transfusions.

Fact 8: Hepatitis B vaccines are effective only for people who have not been infected with the hepatitis B virus.

Many countries have access to effective hepatitis B vaccines. Often in these countries, babies are given the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. Click here for more information.

People who have been infected with hepatitis B need to visit their doctors and learn about the best treatments for controlling the virus.