Hepatitis B is transmitted when blood, semen, or other body fluids from an infected person enter the body of someone who is not infected. Common ways to get hepatitis B include:
- Sexual contact without using a condom or barrier protection, where infected blood, semen, saliva, or vaginal fluids enter the body
- Sharing needles or syringes for injecting drugs, including sharing equipment used to snort drugs, which can carry tiny traces of infected blood
- Being accidentally injured by a used needle, such as needlestick injuries in healthcare settings
- Receiving tattoos or piercings with unsterilized equipment
- Sharing personal items like razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers that may have traces of infected blood
- From an infected pregnant person to their baby during childbirth (perinatal transmission)
Hepatitis B is not spread through coughing, sneezing, or casual contact like sharing food or drinks
. The virus can survive outside the body for some time, so contact with contaminated objects can also lead to infection
. Vaccination is the best protection against hepatitis B, and using condoms can reduce but not eliminate the risk of sexual transmission
. In summary, hepatitis B is primarily spread through contact with infectious blood or body fluids, especially via sexual contact, sharing needles, mother- to-child transmission at birth, and exposure to contaminated medical or personal items
