How is hepatitis B contracted?

Transmission can occur through sex, shared needles or other equipment that breaks the skin, contaminated sharp instruments, and blood entering a cut, the eyes, or the mouth. A parent can also pass the virus to a baby around birth. The virus is not spread by casual touching, hugging, coughing, sharing cooked food, or using the same toilet.

Use sterile equipment for injections and medical or cosmetic procedures, avoid sharing razors and toothbrushes, and cover wounds. Ask a clinician about [Hepatitis B Vaccination](/treatments/preventive-care-and-vaccination/hepatitis-b-vaccination/), especially if exposure is possible through work, household contact, or sex. After a concern, testing may include hepatitis B blood tests and a [Liver Function Test](/treatments/diagnostics-and-screening/liver-function-test/).

Get medical advice promptly after a needlestick, shared needle, unprotected sexual exposure, or contact with infected blood. Early advice matters because preventive options may depend on when the exposure occurred. Seek urgent care for confusion, severe vomiting, severe abdominal pain, or intense yellowing of the eyes or skin. [Fatigue](/symptoms/fatigue/) and [Dark Urine](/symptoms/dark-urine/) can occur with hepatitis B but do not prove its cause.

Ask what type of exposure occurred, whether you need testing now or later, whether contacts need vaccination, and what symptoms should trigger review.