Pregnant women can pass the virus to their babies while giving birth. Sharing toothbrushes, razors, or anything else with infected blood on it can also spread the virus. Hepatitis B is not spread by casual contact. The symptoms of hepatitis B include fatigue, poor appetite, fever, vomiting, and jaundice. Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, and darkening of the urine.
Many individuals have mild or no symptoms at all.
Eighty to ninety percent will recover from their illness with no problems. Ten to twenty percent will become carriers of the virus for life and remain infectious for life. The best way to prevent the spread of hepatitis B is to avoid contact with the body fluids of infected persons. Use condoms when you have sex, wear latex gloves if you handle body fluids, and never share needles, razors, toothbrushes, or anything else that may have blood on it. This vaccine is safe, effective, and recommended for people at high risk, infants who are born to mothers with hepatitis B, and all children as part of their complete vaccination schedules .