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Hepatitis B

• More information on hepatitis B

Hepatitis (HEP-uh-TEYE-tuhss) B is a liver disease. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus, or HBV. Hepatitis that does not get better can cause scarring of the liver, liver cancer, or even death. People can get HBV through contact with infected blood or body fluids. You can get HBV by having sex or sharing needles with an infected person or by being born to a mother with HBV. HBV infection is much more likely to become a life-long infection in people who get it at birth or in early childhood.

About 1 in 10 Asian-Americans is affected by HBV. Rates of HBV infection are especially high among immigrants from Laos, Vietnam, and China. Within this high-risk group, HBV is spread mainly from mother to baby during pregnancy. Babies born with HBV are likely to have it their whole lives. They can spread the disease and can get liver damage or cancer. In fact, the risk of liver cancer is 100 times higher in people with HBV infection. Asian-Americans have the highest rates of liver cancer in the United States.

If you get HBV, you may feel like you have the flu. But most people with HBV have no symptoms. So, you can have HBV (and be spreading the virus) and not know it. Only a blood test can tell for sure if you have HBV. If you have HBV in your blood, you can give hepatitis B to your baby. Ask your doctor to be tested for HBV early in your pregnancy.

Hepatitis B has no cure. But treatment for long-lasting hepatitis B can slow or stop the virus from harming the liver. If hepatitis B causes liver failure, a liver transplant may be needed. This involves replacing the failed liver with a healthy one from a donor.

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More information on hepatitis B

Read more from womenshealth.gov

• Viral Hepatitis Fact Sheet — This fact sheet answers frequently asked questions about viral hepatitis and how the virus spreads. It also has information on the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of hepatitis.
  http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/viral-hepatitis.cfm

Explore other publications and websites

• For Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer Patients (Copyright © Asian Liver Center at Stanford University) — This fact sheet explains why Asian-Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians need to be aware of hepatitis B. It discusses the high incidence of hepatitis B among these populations, how hepatitis is transmitted, why it often goes undiagnosed, and how it is treated. It encourages Asians to get tested and vaccinated, and to seek help to prevent liver damage from hepatitis B.
  http://liver.stanford.edu/Education/hepbpatients.html
• Hepatitis A, B, and C Prevention Programs (Copyright © Immunization Action Coalition) — This website talks about programs across the United States that work to prevent hepatitis A, B, or C in people who are at risk for infection. The site also features general information on hepatitis B and hepatitis A vaccination, special topics related to viral hepatitis, and links to other organizations and resources.
  http://hepprograms.org/
• Hepatitis B and You — Korean Language Version (Copyright © Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) — This fact sheet gives information in Korean for pregnant women who test positive for hepatitis B. It describes the disease and the steps you can take to protect your baby.
  http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/hepatitis/hepb/hbv_and_you_korean.pdf
• Hepatitis B and You — Vietnamese Language Version (Copyright © Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) — This fact sheet gives information in Vietnamese for pregnant women who test positive for hepatitis B. It explains the disease and the steps you can take to protect your baby.
  http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/hepatitis/hepb/hbv_and_you_viet.pdf
• Hepatitis B Information for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (Copyright © Immunization Action Coalition) — Hepatitis B is common among Asian-Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians. All foreign-born people who were born in Asia and the Pacific Islands (including Hawaii), should be tested. This fact sheet talks about why testing is so important and gives information on prevention and the hepatitis B vaccine.
  http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4190.pdf
• KNOW HBV: What Every Asian and Pacific Islander Should Know about Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer (Copyright © Asian Liver Center) — Most people who are infected with hepatitis B don’t know they have it. Hepatitis B is the most common cause of serious liver disease and many Asian-Americans (including Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians) have a life-long case of it. Watching and treating hepatitis B can lower the risk of liver cancer or failure. Get tested and find out the other ways you can help prevent hepatitis B infection.
  http://liver.stanford.edu/Media/publications/Know%20HBV/English.pdf
• Viral Hepatitis — This publication explains the different types of hepatitis and how they are spread. You can also read the answers to some frequently asked questions and get information on how common hepatitis is.
  http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/
• What I Need to Know About Hepatitis B — Hepatitis B is common in Asian-American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian populations. This easy-to-read publication provides an introduction to the disease’s risk factors, symptoms, and treatments.
  http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepb_ez/index.htm

Connect with other organizations

• Asian Liver Center at Stanford University
  http://liver.stanford.edu/
• Division of Viral Hepatitis, NCID, CDC
  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/index.htm
• National Asian Women's Health Organization
  http://www.nawho.org/site/c.ipILKTOCJsG/b.4089873/k.7F6D/NAWHO_Home_page.htm
• National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, NIDDK, NIH, HHS
  http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/index.htm
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH
  http://www.niaid.nih.gov/Pages/default.aspx
• Office of Minority Health, HHS
  http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/

Content last updated May 18, 2010.

Resources last updated May 18, 2010.

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