THEDANGERS

OF HEPATITIS B:

• What they are• How to avoid them

For more informationCall your doctor,

your local health department, or go to:

• CentersforDiseaseControland Prevention(CDC)

www.cdc.gov/hepatitis

• HepatitisBAdvocate http://hcvadvocate.org/hbv/

• HepatitisBInformationandSupportList www.hblist.net

• MichiganDepartmentofHealth andHumanServices

www.michigan.gov/hepatitis

HowcanyouprotectyourselffromgettingHBV?The younger you are when you get HBV, the sicker you can be. So, get three hepatitis B shots. All babies, children, and teens should get the shots.

ShouldadultsgethepatitisBshots?Adults should get three hepatitis B shots if they are:• wantingtobesafefromgettingHBVdisease

• incontactwithbloodorbodyfluidsofaperson who has HBV

• menwhohavesexwithmen• beingseenortreatedforasexuallytransmitted

disease• havingsexwithmorethanonepartner• havingsexwithapartnerwhohasHBVorwho

shoots drugs• injectingdrugs• livinginthesamehousewithsomeonewho

has HBV• livingwithliverdisease–includingthosewith

hepatitis C virus (HCV)• livingwithHIV• livingwithdiabetes• ondialysis,pre-dialysisorhaveend-stagerenal

disease• atriskofgettingHBVduetojobduties

Howsafeisthevaccine?HepatitisBvaccineisoneofthesafestvaccines.Ithas been used in the United States since 1981.

WherecanyougethepatitisBshots?Talk to your doctor or nurse about the shots or contact your local health department.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) does not discriminate against any individual or group because of race, religion, age,

nationalorigin,color,height,weight,maritalstatus,geneticinformation,sex,sexualorientation,genderidentityorexpression,politicalbeliefsordisability.

Rev. 4/17 PUB 1198

HEPATITIS B VACCINE IS YOUR BEST BET.

GET ALL THREE SHOTS!

WhatishepatitisB?Hepatitis B is a disease caused by a virus that infectstheliver.Itcanleadtosevereillness,life-long disease, scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver, liver failure, liver cancer or death.

HowdopeoplegetthehepatitisBvirus(HBV)?HBV is spread from person to person through bloodandotherbodyfluids.Youcangetitfrompeople who have HBV by:

• comingincontactwiththeirbloodorbodyfluids

• havingunsafesexwiththem• sharingtoothbrushes,razors,nailclippers,or

needles with them• sharingearpiercing,bodypiercingortattooing

equipment with them

Some people who get HBV do not show symptoms and may not know they have it. A pregnant woman who has HBV can give it to her baby at birth. Babies born to these mothers need to get the first shot of vaccine and a shot called HBIGatbirth.Thesebabiesalsoneedasecondshotatonemonth,athirdshotatsixmonths,andablood test by one year of age.

Peoplewithsignsofhepatitismay:• feel tired all the time• haveafever• haveachingmusclesorjoints• havestomachpain• haveanupsetstomachorthrowup• havediarrhea• havejaundice(yellowingofskinoreyes)• havedarkurine• havelight-coloredstools• notfeelhungry

Youcannotlookatsomeoneandtellthattheyhave HBV. The only way for people to know if they have HBV is to get a blood test.

WhathappensifyougetHBV?PeoplecangetoverHBVinaboutsixmonths,orthey can have it for the rest of their lives. People with HBV can:

• giveittoothers• havenosignsofbeingillformanyyears• feeltiredorill• sufferfromliverproblems,suchascirrhosis

(scarring) or cancer