Hepatitis B
Caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis B is a liver infection
transmitted when blood, semen, or another body fluid from someone infected
with the virus enters the body. This can happen from mother to baby at
birth; through sexual contact; sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection
equipment.
For some people, hepatitis B is a short-term illness but for others, it
can become a chronic infection. Age at infection greatly impacts the risk
for chronic infection. Approximately 90% of infected infants become chronically
infected, compared to 2–6 percent of adults.
Chronic hepatitis B can lead to serious health issues such as cirrhosis
or liver cancer. Getting vaccinated is the best method for preventing
hepatitis B.