Hepatitis B

Wheaton College Student Health Services would like to inform you about Hepatitis B disease and the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This notification is required by the state of Illinois and Wisconsin post-secondary institution statutes for all incoming first-year and transfer students.

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease that ranges in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. Hepatitis B can be either “acute” or “chronic.” Acute Hepatitis B virus is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the Hepatitis B virus. An acute infection can, but does not always, lead to a chronic infection. Chronic Hepatitis B virus is a long-term illness that occurs when the Hepatitis B virus remains in a person’s body.

How is Hepatitis B spread?

Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other bodily fluid infected with the Hepatitis B virus enters the body of a person who is not infected. People can become infected with the virus during activities such as: birth (spread from an infected mother to her baby during birth), sex with an infected partner, sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment, sharing items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person, direct contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person, or exposure to blood from needles or other sharp instruments.

Hepatitis B virus can survive outside the body at least 7 days. During that time, the virus can still cause infection if it enters the body of a person who is not infected.

What are the symptoms?

On average, symptoms appear 90 days (or 3 months) after exposure, but they can appear any time between 6 weeks and 6 months after exposure. A majority of adults will develop symptoms from an acute Hepatitis B virus infection, but many children 5 years old or younger do not. Symptoms of acute Hepatitis B can include: fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements, joint pain, and jaundice (yellow color in the skin or the eyes).

Some people with chronic Hepatitis B have ongoing symptoms similar to acute Hepatitis B, but most individuals with chronic Hepatitis B remain symptom free for 20 to 30 years. A small percentage of people with chronic Hepatitis B develop serious liver conditions, such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer. Even as the liver becomes diseased, some people still do not have symptoms, although certain blood tests for liver function might begin to show some abnormalities.

Can Hepatitis B be prevented?

Yes. The best way to prevent Hepatitis B is by getting the Hepatitis B vaccine through a series of shots. The Hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective and is usually given as 3-4 shots over a 6-month period. This vaccine is available at SHS.

More information

To learn more, please visit the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-b/