Those who have an acute infection typically present with symptoms within 3 months of getting the virus. These symptoms include: • Fever • Skin rash • Joint and muscle pain • Weakness • Nausea and loss of appetite • Yellowish skin • Dark-colored/brownish urine • Stomach pain A chronic HBV infection may present similar to an acute infection; the main difference is that an acute infection should only last less than 6 months, while a person with a chronic infection can develop symptoms years after getting the virus. Some individuals can be infected but remain asymptomatic.

A simple blood test is enough to diagnose HBV infection. Other additional tests may be done to evaluate how much damage the liver already has. Most acute infections resolve by themselves and do not require any treatment. Supportive care, such as getting enough rest and eating healthy, is enough for most cases. For chronic infections, anti-viral medications developed to treat hepatitis B are available in the market but require the assessment of a physician prior to use. Very severe cases may lead to liver failure that will require liver transplantation.

It is recommended that screening for hepatitis B be done for particular population groups, including but not limited to: • All pregnant women • Men who have sex with men • Injecting/IV drug users • Hemodialysis patients • Blood and organ donors • Infants of HBV-infected mothers The best way to prevent hepatitis B is by getting vaccinated. The hepatitis B vaccine is typically given as a series of 3 shots over a period of 6 months, and is usually given as early as during infancy. The entire series is needed for long-term protection. Other preventive measures include: • Regular and thorough handwashing • Consistent and correct condom use • Avoiding illegal street drugs, especially those that use injections • Use of safe/clean injecting equipment (e.g. syringes) and equipment/supplies for procedures like piercing, tattoos, and acupuncture • Not re-using or sharing sharp or potentially injurious items like razors, toothbrushes, and nail clippers • Cleaning up spilled and possibly infectious blood using a mixture of water and bleach