6. How is it treated?
There is no cure for Hepatitis B at this time.
Patients with acute hepatitis are advised to rest and to avoid alcohol and anything else that might damage the liver.
Patients with chronic hepatitis who have no symptoms are advised to have regular check-ups and to avoid all substances that might be harmful to the liver.
Patients with chronic hepatitis who have serious health problems can be treated with special medication that may stop the multiplication of the virus inside the body. Other treatments may also improve the condition. Cirrhosis of the liver may require a liver transplant.

7. How can it be prevented?
Hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccination. Safe and effective vaccines can protect everyone who is at risk. The vaccination is usually given as a series of 3 doses over a period of 6 months. There are many people who should protect themselves by getting vaccinated. Here are some obvious risk groups:

• Newborns, infants and children, sexually active teenagers
• Physicians and nurses, especially emergency personnel, certain laboratory workers, other health care and public safety workers,
• People with casual sexual partners
• Intravenous drug users
• Prison inmates
• People working in institutions for the mentally handicapped
• Household members of infected persons, including HBV carriers
• People who travel to areas where HBV is prevalent. (It is more prevalent in developing than in developed countries.)