Hepatitis B Vaccine Summary

Hepatitis B Vaccine Summary The hepatitis B virus is a serious infection that affects the liver. Hepatitis B can cause acute (short-term) illness, more common among adults, which can lead to symptoms such as; loss of appetite, tiredness, diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), or pain in muscles, joints, and stomach (CDC, 2012). Some people go on to develop chronic (long-term) infection leading to liver damage (cirrhosis), liver cancer, and death. Hepatitis B is spread through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. Someone may also be infected from contact with a contaminated object, where the virus can live for up to 7 days (CDC, 2012). The hepatitis B vaccine can prevent this disease,