Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus.

In some cases, the infection causes fever, fatigue, and yellow skin and eyes (jaundice). About 5-10% of infected adults are unable to get rid of the infected cells. Ultimately, the chronic infection may scar the liver (cirrhosis) and cause death from liver failure.

Over 90% of infants who acquire hepatitis B at birth from their infected mothers will develop chronic infection. Since many years may elapse between the infection and onset of illness from chronic liver disease, people may not realize they are carriers.

Since routine immunization programs for children have been introduced there has been a continuous decline in the incidence of hepatitis B.

For more information on hepatitis B visit:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Public Health Agency of Canada