Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver spread through blood and body fluids — from mother to baby at birth, through unprotected sex, through unsterile injections, tattoos, dental work, shared razors, and transfusions of unscreened blood. Most adults clear the infection; in young children and infants, it commonly becomes chronic and silently damages the liver over decades.

Acute vs chronic

• Acute Hepatitis B — fever, fatigue, nausea, jaundice; most adults recover fully.
• Chronic Hepatitis B — the virus persists beyond 6 months; often silent for years; can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
• Inactive carriers — have the virus but no liver damage; still need regular monitoring.

India-specific context

India has an intermediate prevalence of Hepatitis B — meaning millions of people carry it, often without knowing. Hepatitis B vaccine is part of the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP); every infant in India is eligible for 4 doses free of cost. Adults born before the vaccine roll-out or who missed doses should ask a Health Expert about catch-up vaccination.

Who should be tested

• Every pregnant woman (prevents mother-to-baby transmission).
• Family and sexual contacts of known cases.
• Healthcare workers.
• Anyone with persistent abnormal liver tests.
• People who received blood transfusions before screening was routine.
• Dialysis patients, people with HIV or Hepatitis C.
• Those with tattoo, piercing, or unsterile-injection history.

Treatment

• Not every Hepatitis B case needs drug treatment — a specialist decides based on viral load, liver enzymes, and scarring.
• Antivirals (daily tablets) control the virus, reduce liver damage, and lower the chance of liver cancer. Affordable generics are widely available in India.
• Monitoring every 6 months (ultrasound, AFP blood test, liver tests) catches liver cancer earlier.
• Hepatitis A and seasonal flu vaccinations are recommended.
• Avoid alcohol and unregulated herbal liver "tonics."

Prevention

• Vaccinate — infants through UIP; adults can catch up at any age. The vaccine is inexpensive and very effective.
• Newborns of Hepatitis B positive mothers get the vaccine plus immunoglobulin within 12 hours of birth — near-complete prevention.
• Sterile injections, licensed tattooing, safer sex, don't share razors.
• Post-exposure (needle-stick, sexual contact) prevention is possible — act within hours.