Conceptos básicos: Descripción general

Hepatitis B is a virus that spreads from person to person through blood, semen (cum), and fluids from the vagina. A mother with hepatitis B can also pass it to her baby at birth.

Some people who get hepatitis B can get rid of the virus. Others develop chronic (long-term) hepatitis B — a lifelong infection that can lead to liver disease, liver cancer, and even death.

The good news is there’s a vaccine (shot) to prevent hepatitis B.

To protect yourself and your family from hepatitis B:

• Make sure your children get the hepatitis B vaccine — and ask your doctor if you need it
• Get tested for hepatitis B if you’re pregnant or at risk for infection
• Be safe when you travel to countries where hepatitis B is common

Do I need the hepatitis B vaccine?

The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for:

• All babies at birth
• Anyone under age 19 who didn’t get the vaccine as a baby
• Adults who are at risk for hepatitis B
• Anyone who wants to protect themselves from hepatitis B

If you think you might be at risk for hepatitis B, talk with your doctor or nurse about getting the vaccine. Find out more about who needs to get the hepatitis B vaccine.

Lo básico: Pruebas

Do I need to get tested for hepatitis B?

All pregnant women need to get tested for hepatitis B at their first prenatal doctor visit. Learn why the hepatitis B test is important for pregnant women [PDF – 859 KB].

Other people need to get tested if they’re at risk for hepatitis B. For example, you’re at risk if you:

• Were born in a place where hepatitis B is common, like certain countries in Asia, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean
• Tener padres que nacieron en un lugar donde la hepatitis B es común.
• Consumir drogas con agujas
• Vivir o tener relaciones sexuales con alguien que tiene hepatitis B
• ¿Es un hombre que tiene sexo con hombres?
• ¿Estás tomando algún medicamento que debilite tu sistema inmunológico?
• Haber estado en la cárcel o prisión.

You’re also at risk if you have certain health conditions. For example:

• VIH
• Hepatitis C
• Insuficiencia renal
• enfermedad hepática crónica

Lo básico: Tratamiento

¿Tiene tratamiento la hepatitis B?

Yes. The treatment for hepatitis B depends on the type of infection. The 2 types of hepatitis B infection are acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).

Acute hepatitis B

When people first get infected with hepatitis B, it’s called acute hepatitis B. For many people, acute hepatitis goes away by itself and never becomes a chronic problem.

Some people with acute hepatitis B don’t have any symptoms and don’t need treatment. Others have mild symptoms that might feel like the flu. When symptoms happen, they usually last a few weeks — though they can last longer. It’s also possible for people with acute hepatitis B to get very sick and need to go to the hospital.

Children under age 6 who get acute hepatitis B are at high risk for developing chronic hepatitis. That’s why the hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all babies.

Chronic hepatitis B

Algunas personas que contraen hepatitis B aguda desarrollan una infección crónica. Esto significa que la infección nunca desaparece. Quienes padecen hepatitis B crónica pueden necesitar medicamentos para evitar que el virus cause daño hepático.

Actúa: Vacúnate

Siga estos pasos para protegerse a sí mismo y a su familia de la hepatitis B.

Vacúnese contra la hepatitis B.

If you haven’t gotten the hepatitis B vaccine and you think you might be at risk, talk with your doctor or nurse about getting vaccinated.

Utilice esta herramienta de localización para encontrar un centro de salud donde puedas recibir la vacuna contra la hepatitis B.

Ten en cuenta que si has tenido hepatitis B en el pasado y te has recuperado, no necesitas vacunarte.

Does my child need the hepatitis B vaccine?

Yes. The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all babies. It’s usually given as a series of 3 or 4 shots, starting at birth.

The hepatitis B vaccine is also recommended for children and teens who didn’t get the shots as babies. Lea más sobre cómo conseguir que su hijo reciba las vacunas según el calendario previsto..

Tome medidas: Costo y seguro

¿Y el costo?

Bajo el Ley de atención médica asequible, health insurance plans must cover hepatitis B testing for:

• Todas las mujeres embarazadas en su primera visita prenatal
• Adolescentes y adultos que corren un alto riesgo

Plans must also cover the hepatitis B vaccine for:

• All children
• Some adults, depending on their risk

If you have Medicare or private insurance, check to find out what’s included in your plan.

If you don’t have insurance, you still may be able to get free or low-cost services. You can:

• Llame al departamento de salud de su estado. para encontrar un programa de vacunación gratuito o de bajo costo
• Encuentra un centro de salud cerca de ti

For information about other services covered by the Affordable Care Act, Visite HealthCare.gov.

Toma medidas: hazte la prueba

Get tested for hepatitis B if you’re at risk.

Several things can raise your risk for hepatitis B. For example, you’re at risk if you:

• Were born in a place where hepatitis B is common, like certain countries in Asia, South America, Africa, the Middle East, or the Caribbean
• Tener padres que nacieron en un lugar donde la hepatitis B es común.
• Consumir drogas con agujas
• Vivir o tener relaciones sexuales con alguien que tiene hepatitis B
• ¿Es un hombre que tiene sexo con hombres?
• ¿Estás tomando algún medicamento que debilite tu sistema inmunológico?
• Haber estado en la cárcel o prisión.

You’re also at risk if you have certain health conditions. For example:

• VIH
• Hepatitis C
• Insuficiencia renal
• enfermedad hepática crónica
   

Toma medidas: Viaja de forma segura

Travel smart.

La hepatitis B es muy común en algunas partes del mundo. Si planeas un viaje a una zona donde hay muchos casos de hepatitis B, sigue estos pasos básicos para viajar de forma segura:

• Consulte a su médico antes de su viaje. — Pregunte si necesita la vacuna contra la hepatitis B o alguna otra vacuna.
• Utilice esta herramienta para obtener información sobre problemas de salud comunes en otros países.
• Obtén más consejos para mantenerte saludable cuando viajes.

Learn more.

Check out these questions and answers to find out more about hepatitis B symptoms, testing, and treatment.