Vaccine Information
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a serious infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus. It can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. About 5-10% of infected adults and 70-90% of infected infants are unable to clear the virus from their body after infection. They become chronic carriers and serve as a source of infection to others. It is estimated that 350 million people worldwide are hepatitis B carriers. Three quarters of them are Asian. Up to 25% of carriers may suffer from the complications of cirrhosis or liver cancer.
In the last twenty years the carrier rate in Hong Kong has gradually fallen from 10% to 8%. The Hepatitis B vaccine is available for all age groups to prevent HBV infection. The routine immunization of new born infants has reduced the incidence of new cases in Hong Kong.
Signs & Symptoms
About 30% of persons have no signs or symptoms. Signs and symptoms are less common in children than adults. Signs and symptoms may include:
- jaundice
- fatigue
- abdominal pain
- loss of appetite
- nausea, vomiting
- joint pain
Cause
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
Transmission
The hepatitis B virus is found in the body fluids of an infected patient or a carrier, mainly in the form of blood, amniotic fluid, semen and vaginal secretions.
- Transmission can occur when blood or other body fluids from an infected person enters the body of a person who is not infected.
- HBV is spread through having sexual contact with an infected person without using a condom (the efficacy of latex condoms in preventing infection with HBV is unknown, but their proper use might reduce transmission), by sharing drugs, needles, or through sharing ‘equipment’ when injecting drugs, through needlesticks or sharps exposures on the job, or from an infected mother to her baby during birth.
- Persons at risk for HBV infection might also be at risk for infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or HIV.
Prevention
- Hepatitis B vaccine is the best protection.
- If you are having sex but not with one steady partner use latex condoms correctly, and every time you have sex. The efficacy of latex condoms in preventing infection with HBV is unknown, but their proper use might reduce transmission.
- If you are pregnant, you should get a blood test for hepatitis B. Infants born to HBV-infected mothers should be given HBIG (hepatitis B immune globulin) and a vaccine within 12 hours after birth.
- Do not shoot or inject drugs; if you shoot drugs, stop and get into a treatment program; if you can't stop, never share drugs, needles, syringes or any equipment and get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.
- Do not share personal care items that might have blood on them (e.g. razors, toothbrushes).
- Consider the risks if you are thinking about getting a tattoo or a body piercing. You might get infected if the tools have someone else's blood on them or if the artist or piercer does not follow good health practices.
- If you have or have had hepatitis B do not donate blood, organs, or tissue.
- If you are a health-care or public safety worker get vaccinated against hepatitis B, and always follow routine barrier precautions and safely handle needles and other sharps.
Vaccine Recommendations
- Hepatitis B vaccine has been available since 1982.
- Routine vaccination of 0-18 year olds
- Vaccination of risk groups of all ages
More About Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B FAQ
Useful Link
Hepatitis B Vaccine
For those who do not have the antibody for hepatitis B and are not hepatitis B carriers, we recommended that you have a vaccination against hepatitis. This consists of 3 doses by injection given at 0, 1, 6 months. After these injections over 90% of people will develop antibodies and become protected. In general, for high-risk individuals such as health care workers and people in close contact with carriers we recommend that you have a booster every 5 years. For everyone else a booster every 10 years is usually sufficient.
Hepatitis B Vaccine FAQ
