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Hepatitis B is a virus that spreads from person to person through blood, semen (cum), and fluids from the vagina. A mother with hepatitis B can also pass it to her baby at birth.
Some people who get hepatitis B can get rid of the virus. Others develop chronic (long-term) hepatitis B — a lifelong infection that can lead to liver disease, liver cancer, and even death.
The good news is there’s a vaccine (shot) to prevent hepatitis B.
To protect yourself and your family from hepatitis B:
The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for:
If you think you might be at risk for hepatitis B, talk with your doctor or nurse about getting the vaccine. Find out more about who needs to get the hepatitis B vaccine.
All pregnant women need to get tested for hepatitis B at their first prenatal doctor visit. Learn why the hepatitis B test is important for pregnant women [PDF - 859 KB].
Other people need to get tested if they're at risk for hepatitis B. For example, you're at risk if you:
You’re also at risk if you have certain health conditions. For example:
Yes. The treatment for hepatitis B depends on the type of infection. The 2 types of hepatitis B infection are acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).
When people first get infected with hepatitis B, it's called acute hepatitis B. For many people, acute hepatitis goes away by itself and never becomes a chronic problem.
Some people with acute hepatitis B don't have any symptoms and don't need treatment. Others have mild symptoms that might feel like the flu. When symptoms happen, they usually last a few weeks — though they can last longer. It’s also possible for people with acute hepatitis B to get very sick and need to go to the hospital.
Children under age 6 who get acute hepatitis B are at high risk for developing chronic hepatitis. That's why the hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all babies.
Some people who get acute hepatitis B develop a chronic hepatitis B infection. This means the infection will never go away. People with chronic hepatitis B may need to take medicine to help stop the virus from causing liver damage.
Take these steps to help protect yourself and your family from hepatitis B.
If you haven’t gotten the hepatitis B vaccine and you think you might be at risk, talk with your doctor or nurse about getting vaccinated.
Use this locator tool to find a health center where you can get the hepatitis B vaccine.
Keep in mind that if you’ve had hepatitis B in the past and recovered, you don’t need to get the vaccine.
Yes. The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all babies. It’s usually given as a series of 3 or 4 shots, starting at birth.
The hepatitis B vaccine is also recommended for children and teens who didn’t get the shots as babies. Read more about getting your child’s vaccines on schedule.
Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance plans must cover hepatitis B testing for:
Plans must also cover the hepatitis B vaccine for:
If you have Medicare or private insurance, check to find out what’s included in your plan.
If you don’t have insurance, you still may be able to get free or low-cost services. You can:
For information about other services covered by the Affordable Care Act, visit HealthCare.gov.
Several things can raise your risk for hepatitis B. For example, you're at risk if you:
You’re also at risk if you have certain health conditions. For example:
Hepatitis B is very common in some parts of the world. If you're planning a trip to an area where lots of people have hepatitis B, follow some basic steps for safe travel:
Check out these questions and answers to find out more about hepatitis B symptoms, testing, and treatment.