All About Hep B | Treatment & Prevention

Heesook’s story: living with hepatitis B (featuring Dr Alice Lee)

In this video, we meet Heesook who has been living with hepatitis B. Heesook talks about her experience of living with hepatitis B, her diagnosis and treatment. We also talked with Dr Alice Lee, Heesook’s specialist, about the need for people from migrant backgrounds to get tested early and often to ensure they can get treatment if needed, before they get liver damage.

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are the most common hepatitis viruses in Australia.

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. It’s the most common liver infection in the world. Hepatitis B often has no symptoms, so you might have it for years and not know it. But, if you don’t manage your hepatitis B, it can lead to serious liver health problems.

Liver damage and health problems from hepatitis B can include:

Cirrhosis (scarring of liver tissue)
Fibrosis
Liver cancer
Liver failure

But, with proper monitoring and treatment (if needed) people with hepatitis B can live healthy lives. It’s very important to get tested if you think you have been at risk of hepatitis B, so that you can get the care you need.

Find clinics and doctors in NSW

Find local clinics and specialists in NSW who can help you with hepatitis treatment and care.

Find Help

Who is at risk of getting hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is passed on most commonly from mother to baby, or through blood-to-blood contact.

How is hepatitis B transmitted?

The hepatitis B virus can live in blood and sexual fluids. You are at risk of hepatitis B transmission when there is blood-to-blood contact with someone with hepatitis B. Unprotected sex can also be a transmission risk for hepatitis B.

Why test for hepatitis B?

About 1 in 100 people in NSW have hepatitis B. Almost half of those don’t know it yet.

If you think you may have hepatitis B, the only way to know for sure is to get tested. Hepatitis B is not a routine test, so unless you ask for it, the check-ups you do with your family doctor will not include it. If you want to know your hepatitis B status, ask your doctor for a hepatitis B test.

You might be able to access healthcare via your computer or phone. Click here to learn more about Telehealth and hepatitis B >>

Managing and monitoring hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is an easily managed condition. If you see your doctor for regular hepatitis B check-ups, you can live a long and healthy life with hepatitis B. The most important thing is to see your doctor every 6 months for liver checks.

Hepatitis B can change over time. There are times when the virus is quiet and not damaging your liver much. At other times, the virus is active – and this is when the liver gets damaged.

Learn more about hepatitis B

Find out more about hepatitis B and make the best health choices for you. Our hepatitis B FAQs aim to quickly answer the most commonly asked questions about hepatitis B. You might have had hepatitis B for several years, or you might have been diagnosed with hepatitis B recently. In any case, our hepatitis B FAQs are for you.

You can also call our free Hepatitis Infoline to speak to someone who can provide you with more information about hepatitis B. Call 1800 803 990 today.

For in-language Vietnamese and Arabic resources about hepatitis B, click here >>

Click here to read about hepatitis B in Korean.

Click here to read about hepatitis B in Chinese.