Hepatitis B

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Hepatitis B is a serious viral liver infection that is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

The hepatitis B virus can be passed from person to person through various ways, including:

Sexual contact

Sharing of needles

Accidental needlesticks

Pregnant person to newborn

There are two types of hepatitis B: acute hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis B.

Acute hepatitis B is a short-term illness that occurs within the first six months after being exposed to the hepatitis B virus.

Chronic hepatitis B is a longer-term illness that lasts more than six months after exposure.

Most adults who develop hepatitis B will make a full recovery even if they have severe symptoms. However, infants and children are more likely to develop chronic hepatitis B infection.

Hepatitis B symptoms can range from mild to serious and usually start about one to four months after being infected with the hepatitis B virus, but can be noticeable as early as two weeks after the initial infection. Symptoms of hepatitis B include:

Abdominal pain

Dark urine

Fever

Joint pain

Nausea and vomiting

Fatigue and weakness

Loss of appetite

Jaundice

Although anyone can get hepatitis B, certain people have an increased risk of infection if they:

Have sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV

Take immunosuppressants that keep the immune system from mistakenly attacking healthy tissue

Are currently receiving dialysis treatment

Have another type of liver disease

An acute and chronic hepatitis B infection can cause several complications, including:

Acute liver failure

Chronic liver failure

Cirrhosis of the liver

Liver cancer

Reactivated hepatitis B

Hepatitis D

A healthcare provider can diagnose hepatitis B by asking about your symptoms and performing a physical exam. They will also ask if there is any family history of liver disease. They may ask:

If your work exposes you to the virus

If you use any intravenous (IV) drugs

If you have unprotected sex with anyone who may have hepatitis B

A healthcare provider may also perform tests to help diagnose hepatitis B, including:

Blood tests

Imaging tests such as an elastography

Liver biopsy

Treatment for hepatitis B is dependent on your situation. A healthcare provider may prescribe prophylactic treatment, which is medication to prevent a disease, if you were exposed to the virus within the past 24 hours. Medications for prophylactic treatment include:

Hepatitis B vaccination

Hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG)

Acute hepatitis does not have a specific treatment. A healthcare provider may prescribe IV fluids to prevent dehydration if you have been vomiting or experiencing diarrhea.

Treatment for chronic hepatitis B varies, as it depends on your symptoms and overall health. Treatment options can include:

Monitoring your overall health

Medications such as antiviral drugs or immunomodulators

Surgery to remove part of your liver if hepatitis B causes cancer, or a liver transplant if your whole liver must be removed

The best way to reduce the risk of or prevent a hepatitis B infection is to get vaccinated. It takes three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine, administered over six months, to achieve complete protection from infection. You can also reduce your risk by practicing safe sex and needle use and not sharing personal items.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms associated with hepatitis B, you can receive treatment from a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Hepatitis Awareness Month

Posted on May 1, 2024 by Jacob Lobosco

Hepatitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the liver. Many cases of hepatitis are caused by viral or bacterial infections, but it can also be caused by excessive alcohol consumption, exposure to certain toxins, and drug use. Many people may not be aware that they have hepatitis, as symptoms may not appear for weeks or months after developing this disease. Each year, approximately 15,000 people in the United States die from either liver cancer or chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis.

There are five types of hepatitis; each of them may occur in different ways and present a variety of symptoms. These types include:

Hepatitis A, which is typically transmitted through exposure to food, water, or other substances that have been contaminated by the feces of a person who carries the disease. It does not cause chronic liver disease, but does cause acute, debilitating symptoms that, in rare cases, can be fatal.

Hepatitis B, which is spread through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person; it is also often transmitted from mother to child during birth. Hepatitis B puts infected people at a high risk of death from liver cirrhosis or cancer.

Hepatitis C, a viral infection that can cause both acute and long-term liver problems, such as those that occur in people with hepatitis A and B. It is mainly transmitted through contact with an infected person’s blood. Unlike hepatitis A and B, there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, but it can be treated through antiviral medication.

Hepatitis D, which only occurs in people who already have hepatitis B. It is considered the most severe form of viral hepatitis, putting infected people at the highest risk of experiencing fatal complications, such as liver cirrhosis and cancer.

Hepatitis E, which causes similar symptoms to those of hepatitis A and is transmitted in similar ways, but is caused by a different virus.

The best way to prevent hepatitis is to get vaccinated. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center to schedule an appointment or learn more, please call (718) 670-5486.

What Is Hepatitis B?

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Zakiya Hazel-Jemmott

Hepatitis B, a virus that can cause severe illness, liver damage, and even death, affects over one million Americans; many of these people display no symptoms and are unaware that they are carriers, which can lead to them unknowingly spreading the virus.

While there are measures many can follow to prevent the spread of Hepatitis B, there is one group that requires others to keep them safe – newborns.

There are a variety of ways Hepatitis B can be spread. They include: having unprotected sex, sharing needles, body piercing & tattoos, or using a carrier’s toothbrush or razor, but one of the most common ways to spread the virus is from mother to baby at birth.

Through proper pre-natal care, babies can be protected from getting infected. During their initial prenatal visit, mothers should receive a series of routine blood tests, including tests to check for Hepatitis B. If you test positive, your doctor can take special precautions at the time of delivery to treat your baby immediately after birth, which would most likely prevent infection.

Within 12 hours after you give birth, your doctor will give your baby a shot of Hepatitis B antibodies and an initial shot of the Hepatitis B vaccine. That should be adequate short-term protection from hepatitis B. Together, the antibodies and the vaccine are about 85 to 95 percent effective at preventing hepatitis B infection in babies. The second and third vaccines doses should be administered at regular well-baby check-ups. All three doses are necessary for life-long protection against Hepatitis B.

If you are pregnancy, make sure your doctor tests you for Hepatitis B. If you do not have a doctor, Flushing Hospital’s Women’s Health Center has expert doctors who can guide you through your entire pregnancy. To schedule an appointment, please call 718-670-8993.