Hepatitis B is a virus infection you are able to get any age. It’s harmful to the liver. It can even lead to chronic liver illness, liver cancer, and death.
Hepatitis B spreads through contact with infected blood or other body fluids. You can get Hepatitis B if you’ve sex with someone who has it. You can get it by shooting up with used needles. You can get Hepatitis B if you get a tattoo or body piercing after the needles or tools have been used on someone else. When a woman with Hepatitis B is pregnant, the baby can get the illness from her.
There is no cure for Hepatitis B. But there are shots to prevent Hepatitis B. Consult with your primary care provider about getting the Hepatitis B shots when you –
o Live with someone who has Hepatitis B
o Inject illegal drugs and share needles
o Have sex with somebody who has Hepatitis B
o Have sex with more than one individuals
o Are a man who has sex with men
o Have had a recent sexually transmitted infection
o Have HIV infection
o Have liver disease
o Are receiving kidney dialysis
o Have a blood clotting-factor disorder
o Plan to travel to and stay more than 6 months in a country where many people have Hepatitis B
o Make certain to work where you may be exposed to blood (for example, in a hospital, laboratory, or residential care facility).
The Hepatitis B vaccine is given in a series of 3 shots. The second and third doses are given 1 month and 6 months after the first dose. The shots are safe and you will not get Hepatitis B from them. After each shot, you could have some soreness where the needle went in.
