What Is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a contamination of your liver. It is affected by a virus. There is a vaccine that defends against it. For some people, hepatitis B is moderate and lasts a short time. These acute problems don’t always need treatment. But it can enhance chronic. If that occurs, it can cause scarring of the organ, liver failure, and cancer, and it also can be life-threatening.
It’s spread when people come in touch with the blood, open sores, or body fluids of someone who has the hepatitis B virus.
It is dangerous, but if you get the disease as an adult, it should not last a prolonged time. Your body resists it off within a few months, and you are immune for the rest of your life. That indicates you cannot get it repeatedly but if you get it at birth, it is unlikely to go away.
Causes
Hepatitis B infection is produced by the hepatitis B virus. The virus is transferred from person to person through blood, semen, or other body fluids. It does not develop by sneezing or coughing.
The simple way that HBV can spread are:
- Sexual contact– You may have hepatitis B if you have unprotected sex with someone who is infected. The virus can transfer to you if the person’s blood, saliva, semen, or vaginal secretions enter your body.
- Sharing of needles– HBV easily flows through needles and syringes contaminated with infected blood. Sharing IV drug paraphernalia sets you at high risk of hepatitis B.
- Accidental needle sticks– Hepatitis B is attention for health care workers and anyone else who appears in contact with human blood.
- Mother to child– Pregnant women affected with HBV can pass the virus to their babies during childbirth. However, the newborn can be treated to avoid getting infected in almost all cases. Talk to your doctor about being examined for hepatitis B if you are pregnant or want to enhance pregnancy.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of hepatitis B progression from mild to severe. They ordinarily appear about one to four months after you have been infected, although you could see them as quickly as two weeks post-infection. Some people normally young children may not have any symptoms.
Hepatitis B signs and symptoms may involve;
- Abdominal pain
- Drak urine
- Fever
- Joint pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weakness and fatigue
- Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes is known as jaundice.
Treatment
Treatment for acute hepatitis B infection
If your doctor decides your hepatitis B infection is acute meaning it is short-lived and will go beyond on its own, You may not need medication. Instead, your doctor might suggest rest, proper nutrition, and plenty of fluids while your body attacks the infection. In critical cases, antiviral drugs or a hospital stay is required to prevent complications.
Treatment for chronic hepatitis B infection
Most people diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B infection require medication for the rest of their lives. Treatment helps decrease the risk of liver disease and stops you from passing the infection to others. Treatment for chronic hepatitis B may involve:
Antiviral medications
Several antiviral medicines include entecavir, tenofovir, lamivudine, adefovir, and telbivudine can help fight the virus and slow its capability to destroy your liver. These medications are taken by mouth. Talk to your doctor about which medications strength be right for you.
Interferon injections
Interferon alfa-2b is a man-made variant of substances produced by the body to fight infection. It is used essentially for young people with hepatitis B who want to avoid long-term medication for women who might want to get pregnant within a few years, after developing a finite course of therapy. Interferon should not be done during pregnancy. Side effects may involve nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and depression.
Liver transplant
If your liver has been severely injured, a liver transplant may be an option. During a liver transplant, the surgeon excludes your damaged liver and replaces it with a healthy liver. Most transplanted livers come from dead donors, though a small number come from existing donors who donate a portion of the livers.
Hepatitis B Prevention
To help have a hepatitis B infection from spreading:
- Take the hepatitis B vaccine. It is the solution to prevention and the CDC recommends it for all babies, all kinds and teens younger than 19 who have not previously gotten this vaccine, and at-risk people.
- Use condoms each time you have sex.
- Wear gloves when you clean up after others, particularly if you have to touch bandages tampons and linens.
- Close all open cuts or wounds
- Do not share razors, toothbrushes, nail care tools, or pierced earrings by anyone.
- Pick up blood with one part household bleach and 10 parts water
- Do not distribute chewing gum, do not pre-chew food for a baby
Last Updated on July 28, 2023 by john liam
