What causes type B hepatitis?
Hepatitis B virus can be spread in a number of ways. • By contact with blood from an infected person – transfusion of infected blood and blood products or by contaminated needles used by drug addicts, tattooists or acupuncturists. • By sexual contact with an infected person. • From a pregnant woman to her child during delivery. • Type B hepatitis is highly infectious and can, in rare cases, be spread among family members without sexual contact or contact with infected blood. In these cases, the virus is probably spread by toothbrushes or kissing. • The virus can also be contracted by a person, mostly healthcare workers, accidentally pricking themselves with a contaminated needle. Type B hepatitis is commonly seen in drug users, homosexual men, immigrants from countries in Asia and South East Asia (where hepatitis is very common) – and their sexual partners.
