Hepatitis B
Diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment to protect your liver health.
What Is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver. It can cause both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-lasting) illness. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to serious liver damage, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, if left untreated. An estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million people in the United States have chronic hepatitis B, and many do not know they are infected.
How Is It Transmitted?
Hepatitis B is spread through contact with infected blood or body fluids. This can occur through mother-to-child transmission at birth, unprotected sex, sharing needles, or direct contact with blood from an infected person. It is not spread through casual contact like hugging, sharing food, or coughing.
Symptoms
Many people with hepatitis B have no symptoms and feel healthy for years. When symptoms do appear, they may include:
- Fatigue
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Dark urine
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
Diagnosis and Monitoring
Hepatitis B is diagnosed through blood tests that detect the virus and measure liver function. If you have chronic hepatitis B, regular monitoring is essential — including liver function tests, viral load measurements, and screening for liver cancer. FibroScan assessment may also be used to evaluate liver stiffness and check for fibrosis.
Treatment
Not everyone with chronic hepatitis B needs medication right away, but everyone needs regular monitoring. When treatment is indicated, antiviral medications can effectively suppress the virus and reduce the risk of liver damage. Our hepatology team provides comprehensive, ongoing care for patients with hepatitis B.