Hepatitis B

What is it?

Hepatitis B is a virus that can cause inflammation of the liver. It is very common worldwide and is very infectious.

How did I get it?

There are several ways in which it is passed on:

• Unprotected sex, including oral sex.

• Sharing needles, syringes or any other drug injecting equipment.

• Tattooing, body piercing — if dirty equipment is used.

• Through a blood transfusion in a country where donated blood is not screened (it is screened in the UK).

What are the symptoms?

• Flu like illness.

• Sickness.

• Diarrhoea.

• Loss of appetite.

• Yellow skin (jaundice), yellow eyes and darker urine.

• Many people may have no symptoms.

What will it do to me?

Most people infected with the Hepatitis B virus fully recover and you can’t be infected with it again.

A few people may go on to develop long term liver damage and in some cases liver cancer.

Where can I go?

Your local GU Medicine/Sexual Health clinic, or a Doctor.

You may then be referred to a liver specialist.

Can it be treated?

No, but people can make a full recovery.

If you have this infection your partner will also need to have a check up. There is a vaccination available.

Always wearing a condom during sex will reduce the risk of becoming infected.