Overview
- Hepatitis B (HBV) is a blood-borne virus (BBV) that causes inflammation of the liver
- BBVs are viruses that are carried in blood and blood products
- It can cause scarring of the liver, liver failure, liver cancer and death
- Most adults with acute hepatitis B clear the infection spontaneously. The likelihood of chronic infection is much higher when the infection occurs in infancy or childhood
- Hepatitis B can be passed from person to person through exposure to blood and other bodily fluids such as semen or vaginal fluids
- There is a vaccination for hepatitis B
- Hepatitis B can be chronic or acute
