Hepatitis B Vaccination

What are the symptoms of hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver. It is more serious and long-lasting than hepatitis A.

Hepatitis B symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea and jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and the eyes. Most people can get over a case of hep B without any interventions in about three months – this is known as acute hepatitis B. Patients with acute hepatitis B often do not realize they have it – though they can give the infection to others, particularly those with whom they have an intimate relationship.

How is hep B contracted?

The hepatitis B virus can be contracted through a needlestick injury or during a medical or cosmetic procedure where the equipment has not been adequately sanitized.

Hepatitis B can turn into a chronic long-lasting infection. Up to a quarter of people who have progressive hep B will suffer from progressive liver disease, cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Can hepatitis B lead to liver failure?

Even acute hepatitis B occasionally progresses to liver failure. If you have, or think you have hep B, get immediate medical advice about these symptoms, which may indicate liver failure:

• sudden vomiting
• nosebleeds or bleeding gums or a tendency to bruise easily
• drowsiness, irritability and memory problems

Countries with an elevated risk of hepatitis B

Although hepatitis B is prevalent worldwide, there is a particular risk in Africa, China, India, South and Central America, as well as Southeast Asia.

Travellers at risk from exposure to hep B

There are some activities and professions that will expose you to hepatitis B. These include:

• injecting recreational drugs, particularly if you are sharing needles
• sharing personal equipment (for example, razors and toothbrushes)
• sex without a condom, particularly with multiple partners
• cosmetic procedures which use a needle including tattooing and piercing.
• wellbeing procedures which use a needle, such as acupuncture
• surgical procedures, injections and blood transfusions
• employment with a risk of needlestick injury, such as in healthcare or dentistry or in a lab that handles body fluids

Tell your Canadian Travel Clinics adviser if any of these things apply to you. You can be assured of our discretion and the information you share is confidential. This information will help us to conduct an effective hepatitis B risk assessment, which will form the basis of our recommendations.

What are some tips for avoiding hepatitis B?

Vaccines are usually recommended for children, frequent and long-stay travellers, for people who work in healthcare or dentistry (and are in contact with blood or other body fluids). Hep B is also transmitted through shared needles (including acupuncture), unprotected sex (body fluids), tattooing or piercing, and other medical or cosmetic procedures.