HEPATITIS B

Hepatitis B: Overview, Symptoms, Transmission, Prevention, and Immunization

Overview: Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by a virus, with an incubation period of approximately 4 months (1 to 6 months).

Symptoms: In young children, hepatitis B is often asymptomatic. Adults may experience no symptoms or a flu-like syndrome, while some develop a classic clinical syndrome with malaise, headaches, myalgia, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, enlarged liver, and jaundice. Symptoms last 4 to 6 weeks, persisting up to 6 months. About 90 percent of cases are self-limiting, but 6 to 10 percent of infected adults become long-term carriers.

Transmission: The virus is present in body fluids like blood, sperm, and vaginal secretions. Transmission occurs through sexual intercourse, contact with contaminated blood, or from infected mothers to infants during delivery. The infection is most contagious during the second and third month of the incubation period, lingering for weeks after symptoms appear. It confers permanent immunity.

Prevention: The risk while traveling is low, especially with short stays. Long-term travelers should protect against sexual transmission using condoms and avoid contaminated instruments.

Immunization: Vaccines like Engerix™, Heptavax™, and Recombivax™ require three intramuscular shots, with the second dose a month after the first and the third six months later. The vaccine provides good immunity to 80 to 95 percent of people. Even if the full schedule can’t be completed before travel, the first two shots offer some immunity.

Note: Refer to The Canadian Coalition for Immunization Awareness & Promotion for additional information.