Ways to get hepatitis B

Transmission can occur through sex without barrier protection, sharing needles or other equipment that can carry blood, or from a pregnant person to a baby around birth. It can also follow an accidental needlestick or the use of unsterile equipment for tattoos, piercings or medical procedures.

Hepatitis B is not spread by ordinary social contact such as hugging, sharing food, coughing or sitting nearby. Some people have no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they can include tiredness, nausea, discomfort under the ribs, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and [Dark Urine](/symptoms/dark-urine/).

Contact a clinician promptly after a possible blood or sexual exposure. The timing and type of exposure guide whether urgent preventive treatment and testing are needed. Do not share razors, toothbrushes, needles or other items that may have blood on them, and cover open cuts.

Ask about [Hepatitis B Vaccination](/treatments/preventive-care-and-vaccination/hepatitis-b-vaccination/), especially if you have not completed vaccination or may be exposed through work, household contact or sex. Testing may include a blood panel; a [Liver Function Test](/treatments/diagnostics-and-screening/liver-function-test/) can help assess liver health but does not by itself show every detail of infection.

Seek urgent medical advice after a significant exposure, particularly a needlestick, contact with infected blood, or sexual exposure when vaccination status is unknown. Seek prompt care for yellow skin or eyes, severe vomiting, confusion, marked weakness, or worsening abdominal pain. Persistent [Fatigue](/symptoms/fatigue/) also deserves assessment.

Ask: What tests do I need after this exposure? Am I protected by vaccination? Should household or sexual contacts be tested? How should I protect others while results are pending?