Sexually Transmitted Disease Facts
Hepatitis: Type B (caused by hepatitis B virus)
On this page:
Signs and symptoms
Transmission
Complications
Prevention
Testing and Treatment
Contacts for more information
- Download PDF version
formatted for print:
See also: HIV/STD/Hepatitis Risk Assessment
Minnesota Department of Health's integrated risk assessment tool for health and social service providers.
See also: Hepatitis B ECHO-TV Program
Videos available in seven languages with information on hepatitis B awareness and prevention
Signs and Symptoms
Hepatitis B Symptoms:- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal discomfort
- Yellow eyes and skin
- Dark urine or light-color stool
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue
- Pain in muscles and joints
- Begin 45-180 days after exposure
Transmission
Hepatitis B is Spread by:
- Vaginal sex
- Anal sex
- Oral sex
- Sharing needles for injecting drugs, body piercing or tattooing
- Infected mother to newborn
- Sharing personal items that may have blood or bodily fluids on them (razors, tooth brushes, nail clippers, pierced earrings)
Complications
Hepatitis B:
- Can spread to sex partners
- Can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer and death
- Infected mother can pass virus to newborn.
- Infected baby may become a chronically infected.
- Can infect others while in both acute and chronic phases.
- Less than 1% of people die during the acute phase of infection.
Prevention
- Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all infants, adolescents and sexually active adults.
- Don’t share needles for drugs, tattooing or piercing.
- Avoiding vaginal, oral or anal sex is the best way to prevent STDs.
- Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of hepatitis B.
- Always use latex condoms during vaginal and anal sex.
- Use a latex condom for oral sex on a penis.
- Use a latex barrier (dental dam or condom cut in half) for oral sex on a vagina or anus.
- Limit the number of sex partners.
- Don’t share personal items like razors.
- When infant is born to an infected mother, immunize infant at birth.
Testing and Treatment
Management of Exposure to Hepatitis B:
- Get a test from a medical provider if infection is suspected.
- Hepatitis B immune globulin injection given within 7 days after blood exposure or 14 days after sexual contact; vaccine may also be recommended.
Minnesota Department of Health,
P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0975
651-201-5414, 877-676-5414
Minnesota Family Planning
and STD Hotline ATTN: Non-MDH link
1-800-783-2287 Voice/TTY
CDC National STD and AIDS Hotlines Attention: Non-MDH link
1-800-227-8922; 1-800-243-7889 TTY
1-800-344-7432 (Spanish)
CDC Hepatitis
Hotline ATTN: Non-MDH link
(404) 332-4555
