Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). This virus can lead to both acute, short-term illness and chronic, long-lasting conditions, potentially resulting in severe liver damage. Understanding how this virus is transmitted and identifying those most susceptible to contracting it is important for prevention.
How Hepatitis B Spreads
Hepatitis B spreads through direct contact with infected blood or other bodily fluids. This includes semen, vaginal fluids, and even menstrual blood. The virus is highly infectious, significantly more so than HIV, and can survive outside the body for at least seven days.
One common mode of transmission is through sexual contact with an infected individual. This can occur during unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex, as the virus can be present in semen and vaginal fluids. Sharing needles or syringes is another significant pathway for the virus to spread.
Transmission can also occur from an infected pregnant person to their baby during childbirth. Without intervention, there is a high risk of passing the infection to the baby. Less commonly, the virus can spread through unsterile medical or dental equipment, tattooing, or piercing tools, if they are contaminated with infected blood. Sharing personal items like razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers that might have traces of blood on them also poses a risk.
Who is at Higher Risk
Certain populations and scenarios increase an individual’s likelihood of exposure to Hepatitis B. People who inject drugs face a heightened risk due to the sharing of needles and syringes. This remains a common risk factor for new HBV infections.
Healthcare workers and emergency responders are also at increased risk because their occupations involve frequent exposure to blood and other bodily fluids. Accidental needle sticks or other exposures in clinical settings can lead to infection, although healthcare-related transmission is rare in the United States due to safety protocols. Individuals engaging in sexual activity with multiple partners or those diagnosed with other sexually transmitted infections have a greater chance of exposure through unprotected sexual contact. Men who have sex with men are also identified as a group with higher rates of infection.
Living in close household contact with someone chronically infected with Hepatitis B also increases risk, as shared personal items or accidental blood exposure within a household can transmit the virus. People born in regions where hepatitis B is common have a higher prevalence of the virus. Infants born to infected mothers are particularly susceptible, with a high likelihood of developing chronic infection if not promptly vaccinated at birth.
Common Misconceptions About Transmission
It is important to clarify that Hepatitis B is not spread through casual contact. The virus is not transmitted by sneezing, coughing, hugging, or holding hands. Sharing eating utensils, drinking from the same cup, or using the same toilet seat also does not transmit the virus.
Kissing generally does not transmit Hepatitis B unless there is direct, open-mouth contact involving infected saliva and open wounds or bleeding gums, which is uncommon. Breastfeeding is generally considered safe, as Hepatitis B cannot be transmitted to the baby through breast milk. However, if the mother has cracked or bleeding nipples, there could be a low risk of transmission, though vaccination of the newborn offers protection. Hepatitis B is also not a genetically transmitted disease; rather, it is an infectious disease spread through direct contact with blood or bodily fluids.