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Health

What does It Mean to be Hepatitis B Positive?

Anna T.
By
Updated May 17, 2024
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A person who is hepatitis B positive either currently has the illness or has had it in the past. When adults develop hepatitis B, they may not realize they have it because the symptoms are often similar to the flu or some other type of minor virus. Hepatitis B goes away for most people who develop it within a month or two. Even though the illness normally goes away, a blood test will always show signs that a person has had the virus in the past because having a past infection means a person's blood has built up antibodies to the disease. This positive blood test often comes as a surprise to healthy people who were not aware they ever had hepatitis B.

People who are hepatitis B positive might also currently have hepatitis B. Symptoms of hepatitis B include vomiting, fever, and yellowing of the skin or eyes. Some people additionally notice that their urine becomes darker in color and they feel excessively weak and tired. Once a person's body rids itself of hepatitis B, it never comes back. There are occasionally some people who develop chronic hepatitis B, which is very serious and might ultimately require a liver transplant.

Hepatitis B is a contagious disease that causes inflammation of the liver. The liver is a very important vital organ in the body, and it is not possible for a person to live without it. When a person is hepatitis B positive and currently suffering from the disease, his liver will not work properly, and this has a direct effect on all his other organs because the liver plays a big part in keeping the entire body running smoothly. Most people go back to normal when hepatitis B runs its course, but people who suffer from chronic hepatitis often die. Children and infants are more likely to develop chronic hepatitis B because their immune systems are often not built up enough to fight off the illness.

If a person is hepatitis B positive but does not currently have hepatitis, she should not become overly concerned. People who have had hepatitis in the past and have recovered from it can't get it again, and they also cannot give it to other people. Being hepatitis B positive does mean that a person won't be eligible to donate blood or organs to others. False positives do occasionally occur during hepatitis B immunity testing, and because of this doctors cannot always be 100-percent sure that a person isn't still infected with hepatitis B, which is why blood and organ donations are not accepted from people who have ever had it.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Anna T.
By Anna T.
Anna Thurman is a skilled writer who lends her talents to WiseGEEK. Her ability to research and present information in an engaging and accessible manner allows her to create content that resonates with readers across a wide range of subjects.
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Discussion Comments

By Animandel — On Feb 17, 2015

@mobillian33 - You're right, anyone can get hepatitis B because it is an infectious disease. Without doubt, the best step you can take to lower the chances of getting hepatitis B is to get vaccinated. This is a simple procedure and takes but a couple of minutes out of your day , and it is worth the time. Even with the vaccination you are not getting a guarantee that you will not get the disease, but the vaccine is about 95 percent effective according to the current studies. That sounds like good odds to me.

By Laotionne — On Feb 16, 2015

@mobilian33 - I don't know how common this is, but one of the little girls who is friends with my little cousin has hepatitis B and she got if from her mother. Her mother had hepatitis when she was pregnant and she passed it on to her daughter. The little girl is perfectly healthy and beautiful, and she doesn't seem to have any symptoms of the disease. Of course, there is no way you can tell she is hepatitis B positive just by looking at her.

By mobilian33 — On Feb 15, 2015

I have always associated hepatitis with drug use and other risky life choices. I was recently surprised when I learned that my neighbor was diagnosed with hepititus B. She is a 75-year-old woman who is active in the church and has always lived life pretty close to the vest as far as I am aware. Of course, I don't have any way of knowing exactly what things she has done in her life.

However, the point I am making is that anyone can get this disease. You can be a doctor, a lawyer, a drug user or a little old lady who likes to go to church.

Anna T.

Anna T.

Anna Thurman is a skilled writer who lends her talents to WiseGEEK. Her ability to research and present information in an engaging and accessible manner allows her to create content that resonates with readers across a wide range of subjects.
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