Hepatitis - Hepatitis A

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Prevention of Hepatitis B

Vaccination. Hepatitis B is preventable by vaccination. There are several inactivated virus vaccines, including Recombivax HB and Engerix-B. A combination vaccine (Twinrix) that contains Engerix-B and Havrix, a hepatitis A vaccine, is also available. The hepatitis B vaccine is usually given as a series of 3 - 4 shots over a 6-month period.

The CDC recommends hepatitis B vaccination for:

• All children should receive their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth and complete their vaccination series by 6 - 18 months. Children younger than age 19 who were not vaccinated should receive “catch-up” doses.
• People who live in a household with or who have sexual relations with a person with chronic hepatitis B
• People with multiple sex partners
• People who have a sexually transmitted disease
• Men who have sex with men
• People who share drug-injection needles and equipment
• Healthcare workers at risk for exposure to blood
• People with end-stage renal disease who are on dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis)
• People with chronic liver disease
• People infected with HIV
• Residents and staff of institutions for the developmentally disabled
• Travelers to regions that have moderate-to-high rates of hepatitis B infection

Click the icon to see an image discussing hepatitis B vaccine.

Prevention After Exposure to Hepatitis B. The hepatitis B vaccine or a hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) shot may help prevent hepatitis B infection if given within 24 hours of exposure.

Lifestyle Measures for Hepatitis B Prevention. The following are some precautions for preventing the transmission of hepatitis B (and hepatitis C):

• Use a condom and practice safe sex.
• Avoid sharing personal items such as razors or toothbrushes.
• Do not share drug needles or other drug paraphernalia (such as straws for snorting drugs).
• Clean blood spills with a solution containing 1 part household bleach to 10 parts water.

Hepatitis B (and hepatitis C) viruses cannot be spread by casual contact such as holding hands, sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, breastfeeding, kissing, hugging, coughing or sneezing.

Prevention of Hepatitis C

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C prevention. Lifestyle precautions are similar to those for hepatitis B. People who are infected with the hepatitis C virus should avoid drinking alcohol as this can accelerate the liver damage associated with hepatitis C. People who are infected with hepatitis C should also receive vaccinations for hepatitis A and B.

Review Date: 09/29/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, In-Depth Reports; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).