 Sexually transmitted liver infection which can cause
inflammation and cell damage leading to cirrhosis and liver
cancer.
 Transmitted via sexual fluids, blood (sharing needles, razors,
toothbrushes) or mother to baby.
 HBV is 100 times more infectious than HIV.
 Can be asymptomatic or can cause abdominal pain, flu-like
symptoms, dark urine, light-colored feces, jaundice, fatigue and
fever.
 About 95% of persons who become infected as adults will selfresolve
the virus with their own immune system; only 5%
become chronically infected.
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 Children and babies have much higher rates of chronic infection
(90% of infants and 25-50% of children ages 1-5 will become
chronic carriers of HBV)
 HBV is a hardy virus – able to remain infectious even when
outside the body for long periods of time (such as in dried
blood).
 There is a vaccine that prevents HBV (required for kids entering
school; series of 3 shots).
 Condoms may reduce the risk of sexual transmission of HBV
when they cover areas exposed to infected blood or sexual
fluids.