Contact a health professional immediately if you have been diagnosed with hepatitis B and develop severe dehydration (caused by vomiting and an inability to hold down fluids) or any of the following signs of rapidly developing liver failure:

• Extreme irritability (greater than would be expected in a person who is feeling ill).
• Impaired ability to think or reason clearly.
• Extreme drowsiness.
• Swelling of the arms, legs, hands, feet, abdomen, and/or face (edema).
• Heavy bleeding from the nose, mouth, or rectum (including blood in the stool), or under the skin.

If you witness a person with hepatitis B become unconscious, call 911 or other emergency services.

Call to make an appointment if:

• You have any of the hepatitis B risk factors listed in the What Increases Your Risk section of this topic, and you think you need to be tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or receive the hepatitis B vaccine.
• You develop any symptoms of hepatitis B (see the Symptoms section of this topic).
• Someone in your household has been diagnosed with hepatitis B.
• Your sex partner has been diagnosed with hepatitis B.
• You have been bitten by or exposed to the blood or body fluids (such as semen or vaginal fluids, including menstrual blood) of someone who has hepatitis B.

Watchful Waiting

Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your health professional observe your symptoms or condition without using medical treatment. Because of the need to prevent the spread of hepatitis B, watchful waiting is not recommended if you have symptoms of hepatitis B or if you think you have come in contact with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Because all forms of viral hepatitis have similar symptoms, it is important to see a health professional for a blood test when symptoms arise, so that he or she can rule out other forms of the illness. A health professional also can advise you about how to prevent the spread of the virus.

Who To See

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection usually can be diagnosed by:

• Family medicine doctors.
• Pediatricians.
• Internists.
• Physician assistants.
• Nurse practitioners.

The following specialists may work with your doctor to plan treatment:

• Gastroenterologist
• Hepatologist
• Infectious disease specialist

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment