Hepatitis B Causes & Risks

Causes

This virus is spread through contact with body fluids of an infected person. Fluids include:

Blood
Semen
Vaginal fluids
Saliva

A woman with hepatitis can pass the virus onto her baby during birth. The hepatitis B virus is not spread through food or water.

Risk Factors

The following situations may increase your risk of getting hepatitis B:

Having sex with someone infected with hepatitis B or who is a carrier of hepatitis B
Injecting illicit drugs, especially with shared needles
Having more than one sexual partner
Being a man who has sex with men
Living in the same house with someone who is infected with hepatitis B
Having a job that involves contact with body fluids, such as:
- First aid or emergency workers
- Funeral directors
- Medical personnel
- Dentists
- Dental assistants
- Firefighters
- Police personnel
Having a sexually transmitted disease at the time you come in contact with hepatitis B
Traveling to areas where hepatitis B is common, such as China, southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa
Receiving a blood transfusion prior to 1992 (the year a more reliable test to screen blood was developed)
Receiving multiple transfusions of blood or blood products, as hemophiliacs do (risk is greatly reduced with modern blood screening techniques)
Working or being a patient in a hospital or long-term care facility
Working or being incarcerated in a prison
Being bitten so that the skin is broken by someone whose saliva contains the virus
Receiving hemodialysis treatment

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2025 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.