Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver. It is usually caught from infected blood or sexual contact. It has a long incubation period of two weeks to four months and can cause more potential complications if it turns into a chronic (long-term) infection.

Cases of Hepatitis B in England

Cases reported to the WHO per country per year

Incubation period

2 weeks – 4 months

Symptoms

Abdominal pain, Dark urine, Fever, Loss of appetite, Joint pain, Fatigue, Jaundice

Possible complications

Liver disease, Kidney problems, Inflammation of blood vessels

About Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. Unlike many infections, it’s not caught by simply being near someone with the disease; it can only be caught – with rare exceptions – from infected blood or through sexual contact. The largest risk factors are injecting drugs and a man having unprotected sex with a man with hepatitis B.

Children are only usually at risk of contracting hepatitis B if they’re born to hepatitis B-infected mothers, live with someone who has hepatitis B or are travelling to or planning to live in a country where hepatitis B is widespread.

Once a child contracts this virus, they are more at risk than adults of it becoming a chronic (long-term) infection.

Hepatitis B symptoms

Some people, especially young children, may not show any symptoms of having hepatitis B. When symptoms do develop, they typically include:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Dark urine
  • Fever
  • Joint pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)

Possible complications

A chronic hepatitis B infection can lead to complications such as scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), liver cancer, liver failure, kidney disease or inflammation of blood vessels.

Hepatitis B FAQs

Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver. It can only be caught – with rare exceptions – from infected blood or through sexual contact. Babies are at risk of developing the illness if born to a mother with hepatitis B.

Though common in many parts of the world, hepatitis B is rare in the UK where fewer than ten children catch the disease in most years. Most people with hepatitis B make a complete recovery, but some will go on to develop serious disease or liver cancer.

FIND OUT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HEPATITIS B VACCINATION HERE

Hepatitis B is usually diagnosed with a blood test and/or liver ultrasound or biopsy. In babies born to mothers with hepatitis B, the priority will be vaccination to prevent infection.

Short-term (acute) hepatitis B does not usually need a specific treatment, although this will depend on individual symptoms. With long-term (chronic) hepatitis B, there are various antiviral medications that can help to keep the virus under control.

Emergency treatment can be given soon after possible exposure to the hepatitis B virus to stop an infection from developing.

Individual advice about protecting your child against hepatitis B

Need advice about whether your child should be vaccinated against hepatitis B? The BabyJabs clinicians are here to listen and answer your questions to help you decide.