However, babies can be treated soon after birth with vaccine and other medicine. Most people don't show symptoms of hepatitis B until the disease has already done extensive liver damage. Others have flu-like symptoms such as nausea, achiness, fatigue, and fever that may be mistaken for flu. A doctor can diagnose a suspected case with a special blood test. Once chronic hepatitis B is diagnosed, in some cases treatment consists of rest and antiviral drugs.
Many infected people go on to suffer cirrhosis, liver cancer, and eventual death.
Given this grim prognosis, it makes good sense to try to prevent the disease. Some states have laws requiring vaccination of all adolescents, but even if your state doesn't require it, the CDC says it's a good idea to get the series of three shots. Those who do show symptoms may mistake the achiness, tiredness, fever, appetite loss, vomiting, and abdominal soreness for flu. People who experience jaundice or dark urine are more likely to become suspicious and seek help. The only treatment for such advanced cases is a liver transplant, but there are more than 10,000 names on the transplant waiting list and less than half that number of livers available for transplant each year in the United States.