Hepatitis B

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B, also known as Hep B, is a viral illness of the liver that is spread through blood and body fluids.

It usually causes no noticeable symptoms in adults and typically resolves on its own within a few months.

In children, however, it frequently lingers for years and can eventually lead to severe liver damage.

Hepatitis B is less prevalent in the United Kingdom than in other regions of the world, yet certain populations are at particularly high risk. This includes individuals from high-risk countries, those who inject drugs, and those who engage in unprotected sexual activity with multiple sexual partners.

High Risk areas for Hep B

Hep B can be found throughout the globe but it is particularly common in the following parts of the world.

• east and southeast Asia
• sub-Saharan Africa
• the Indian subcontinent
• the Pacific Islands
• parts of South America
• southern parts of eastern and central Europe
• the Middle East

Majority of the new cases in the UK are found in people who travelled from these high risk areas.

If you are travelling to these areas, it is recommended that you speak with a travel health expert 6 to 8 weeks before. You might be advised to get vaccinated also offered advice on other precautions that you can take against Hep B infection.

Main symptoms of Hep B

Only a small percentage of patients with hepatitis B develop symptoms, which usually appear 2 or 3 months after being exposed to the hepatitis B virus.

Hepatitis B symptoms can include:

• tiredness
• aches and pains in general
• temperature (fever)
• an overall feeling of being poorly
• a loss of appetite
• sensation of being sick
• tummy ache
• diarrhoea
• yellowing of the skin and eyes colour (jaundice)
• urine that is dark in colour
• faeces that is pale and grey in colour

Recommendations for travellers

If you are travelling to a high risk areas or you work in a high risk occupation then getting the Hepatitis vaccination is usually recommended. Book a consultation with a travel health expert 6 to 8 weeks prior to travelling.

Even if you’ve been vaccinated against Hepatitis B, you should still take precautions to avoid infection. These include:

• Avoiding unprotected sex.
• do not share injecting equipment such as needles
• Avoid sharing shaving equipment or toothbrush with other people.
• Ensure that sterile equipments are used for tattooing, body piercing and other invasive procedures.