People may be at more risk of both AIDS and hepatitis B due to similar risk factors. Having HIV and hepatitis B may lead to serious complications. However, both are treatable and preventable.

Stage 3 HIV is also known as AIDS.

Stage 3 HIV is the most advanced stage of HIV. HIV is considered stage 3 when the immune system can no longer fight off infections. However, treatments can prevent HIV from reaching this stage.

Hepatitis B is a type of hepatitis, a viral infection that affects the liver. A person may have hepatitis B due to a virus that transfers through bodily fluids, childbirth, and other ways.

Although the infection can be short term, some people can have long-term or chronic hepatitis B. Disease progression may lead to serious complications, including liver damage.

There is currently no cure for hepatitis B. However, healthcare professionals can treat hepatitis B. It is also preventable through receiving the hepatitis B vaccine.

Some people with HIV may also have hepatitis B or be at risk of acquiring the viral infection. Both conditions can transfer in similar ways.

Healthcare professionals may refer to hepatitis B as hepatitis B virus (HBV). They may use the term HIV/HBV coinfection if a person has HIV and hepatitis B.

This article discusses stage 3 HIV and hepatitis B occurring together. It also discusses the effects of the conditions.

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Stage 3 HIV is the final and most severe stage of HIV. People with HIV often also develop hepatitis B.

HIV and hepatitis B spread in similar ways, such as through sexual contact. This means people with HIV are also at risk of developing hepatitis B. People with HIV who acquire the hepatitis B virus are at a higher risk of developing liver-related complications.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the number of people overall in the United States who have hepatitis B is less than 0.5%.

However, according to research based on older statistics, approximately 5% to 10% of people with HIV in the United States also have chronic hepatitis B.

Read more about HIV and hepatitis B.

Both HIV and hepatitis B pass from person to person in bodily fluids.

A person may be at risk for both conditions due to the same reasons, such as:

  • having sex without a condom or another barrier method
  • sharing needles

Learn about HIV transmission.

People with hepatitis B may not experience any symptoms at first. However, they may later experience acute illness with symptoms that include:

Severe hepatitis can lead to liver disease and fatal complications, such as liver failure.

Chronic hepatitis B is where the immune system does not fight off a hepatitis B infection.

People with chronic hepatitis B may have no symptoms. However, without treatment, they may also develop certain conditions, such as:

If a person has HIV, they may have a weakened immune system. This means they may have a greater risk of developing chronic hepatitis B from a hepatitis B infection.

There is no cure for hepatitis B yet. However, vaccination against hepatitis B can help protect people with HIV against it.

Treatments for hepatitis B can also delay or limit damage to the liver.

Some HIV medications can also treat hepatitis B. Having chronic hepatitis B does not appear to cause HIV to advance faster.

Learn more about chronic hepatitis B.

Contact with bodily fluids that contain the hepatitis B virus can transmit it. Fluid examples include:

  • blood
  • saliva
  • vaginal fluids
  • semen

Viral transfer methods can also include:

  • perinatal transmission during birth
  • using needles, syringes, or sharp objects that have the hepatitis B virus on them

People with HIV can also take steps to reduce their risk of having hepatitis B, including:

  • using condoms or other barrier methods during sex
  • not sharing:
    • needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment
    • toothbrushes, razors, or other personal items that may come into contact with another person’s blood
  • ensuring that instruments used during tattoos or body piercings are sterile
  • receiving the hepatitis B vaccine

People with both HIV and hepatitis B are at greater risk of developing liver disease faster. They also have an increased risk of developing serious liver complications.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends hepatitis B screening for people who are both:

  • at risk from hepatitis B, such as people with HIV
  • and at risk of exposure to hepatitis B

Some HIV medications may also increase a person’s risk of liver damage. This means that healthcare professionals typically monitor a person for signs of liver damage when they start taking HIV medication.

Read about HIV medications.

Is hepatitis B related to AIDS?

Hepatitis B is a different condition than Stage 3 HIV, also known as AIDS. A different virus causes each condition. However, both HIV and hepatitis B transfer in similar ways.

What are the causes of hepatitis B?

The hepatitis B virus causes hepatitis B infection. People may acquire the virus due to contact with blood, semen, or other bodily fluids from someone who has the viral infection. The virus may survive on surfaces or objects for up to 7 days.

The virus may also pass from a person to their child during childbirth, or a person may acquire the virus during early childhood.

HIV and AIDS resources

For more in-depth information and resources on HIV and AIDS, visit our dedicated hub.

Stage 3 HIV (AIDS) is the last and most severe stage of HIV. People with stage 3 HIV have weakened immune systems that cannot fight off infections.

Chronic hepatitis B is a viral infection that can damage the liver and may lead to serious liver complications.

Both HIV and chronic hepatitis B transfer in similar ways. They pass from person to person in semen, blood, or other body fluids. People may have risk factors that make them more likely to contract both viral infections.

A person with HIV and hepatitis B is at more risk of faster disease progression to more serious liver conditions, such as liver damage, failure, or cancer.

However, getting the hepatitis B vaccine can prevent the viral infection. People with HIV can also take steps to help prevent their risk of hepatitis B infection.

Healthcare professionals can prescribe treatment plans for both conditions.