Ready to explore? Learn more about avoiding hepatitis B while travelling
Before heading off on your travels, it’s important to be prepared. Here we learn about hepatitis B, the vaccinations and treatments available.
What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a virus that spreads through blood and body fluids. It causes an infection of the liver.
In the UK, hepatitis B is fairly rare but people with a higher risk include:
• People from or travelling to high-risk places like Africa, Asia, the Middle East and parts of South America and eastern Europe
• People who inject recreational drugs
• People who have unprotected sex with multiple sexual partners
The hepatitis B virus is in the blood and body fluid of someone with the infection. It can be spread in different ways like:
• From mother to child during pregnancy – particularly in countries where it’s common
• Child to child in countries where it’s common
• Having unprotected sex with someone who’s infected
• Sharing drug equipment like needles, spoons and filters
• Tattoos, body piercings, medical or dental treatment where the equipment hasn’t been sterilised
• Sharing toothbrushes or razors with someone who has the virus
Signs & symptoms of hepatitis B
Not everyone gets hepatitis B symptoms. Most people either have no symptoms or mild symptoms. The infection usually lasts for one to three months. If it lasts longer than six months, this is called chronic hepatitis B.
Symptoms of hepatitis B include:
• Having a high temperature
• Feeling tired
• Having pain in your upper tummy
• Nausea
• Being sick
• Itchy skin (in some cases they may be raised. They’re called hives)
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
If you’ve potentially been exposed to hepatitis B, you have any symptoms or you’re at a high risk of coming into contact with the virus, you should speak to your GP.
Treating hepatitis B
Treatment for hepatitis B depends on how long you’ve had the infection. Emergency treatment can help stop people contracting the infection if they've been exposed to the virus for only a few days.
Acute hepatitis B is when the infection has been present for a few weeks or months. Treatment may be needed to relieve the symptoms.
Chronic hepatitis B is when the infection has been present for more than six months. Medications may be offered to control the virus and reduce the risk of liver damage. Chronic hepatitis B needs to be regularly monitored and usually requires long-term or lifelong treatment.
Preventing hepatitis B
The hepatitis B vaccination can help prevent against hepatitis B. In the UK, the vaccination is given to babies as part of the six-in-one vaccine.
Vaccination
If you're travelling and could be at risk of catching hepatitis B, a course of vaccinations should be considered to help protect you. Individuals at high risk include:
• Travellers to a high-risk area (sub-Saharan Africa, East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands)
• People adopting or fostering children from high-risk areas
• People who inject drugs, or have a sexual partner who does
• Someone who frequently changes sexual partners
• Men who have sex with men
• Sex workers
• People working in areas with a risk of coming into contact with blood or body fluids (nurses, prison staff, doctors, dentists, laboratory staff)
• People receiving regular blood or blood products, and their carers
• People with liver or kidney disease
• People with HIV
Other ways to help protect yourself from hepatitis B include:
• Avoiding sharing razors, toothbrushes and needles with others
• Making sure to use a condom or dental dam when having sex (vaginal, anal or oral)
How long does the hepatitis B vaccination last?
A course of vaccinations should provide lifelong protection.
Our service
For specialist health advice and vaccinations, book an appointment online with Boots Travel Vaccinations and Health Advice Service*. Ideally, this should be six to eight weeks before departure, but it’s never too late to seek advice if you're leaving sooner.
Travel vaccination advice
1. Book an appointment
Six to eight weeks before you travel you will need to have your travel health appointment to assess what vaccinations you need.
2. Attend a personalised risk assessment23
During the 40 minute travel health appointment our specially-trained pharmacist will advise on any vaccinations and antimalarials you need for your travelling.
3. Get any vaccinations & antimalarials you may need*
You'll also be given additional personalised advice to help you stay healthy on your trip
