Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus, which is spread through blood and body fluids.

It often does not cause any obvious symptoms in adults and usually passes in a few months without treatment. But in children it often continues for years and may eventually cause serious liver damage.

Hepatitis B is less common in the UK than other parts of the world, but certain groups are at an increased risk of catching it. This includes people originally from high-risk countries, people who inject drugs, and people who have unprotected sex with multiple sexual partners. 

The hepatitis B virus is found in the blood and some other body fluids of infected people. It can be passed from mother to baby during birth. Children and adults can also get hepatitis B from contact with infected body fluids. It’s common for babies and children who get hepatitis B to have long-lasting infections.  

Babies born to mothers with hepatitis B are given additional vaccines at birth to reduce the risk of them getting the infection. 

Over 250 million people around the world have hepatitis B. New cases of hepatitis B have increased in Wales in the last few years. In 2023 there were over 260 new cases. Many more people might have the virus without knowing it.  

Symptoms of hepatitis B 

• A high temperature 
• Tiredness 
• Pain in the upper tummy 
• Feeling sick or being sick 
• Patches of raised skin that may be itchy (hives) 
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

Screening for hepatitis B

During pregnancy, all women are offered screening for hepatitis B. Some mothers infected with hepatitis B are considered especially high risk because they are highly infectious. All babies born to mothers infected with hepatitis B should have a blood test at 12 months to check if they have become infected with hepatitis B.

Learn more

If you would like to learn more about the vaccine, or the diseases they protect against, a number of information resources are available to help.

NHS 111 Wales has extensive information about hepatitis B on its website. You can also seek advice from your GP or at your local sexual health clinic.  

For more information on hepatitis B and its symptoms, visit the British Liver Trust website.