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You are here : Home/ Blood Zone/ Blood Diseases & Disorders/ Hepatitis / Hepatitis B
Hepatitis BWhat is Hepatitis B Hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus that attacks the liver. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a potentially life-threatening bloodborne pathogen. The virus is transmitted through blood and infected bodily fluids. This can occur through
When a person is first infected with the hepatitis B virus, this is called an "acute infection". Most adults will fight off the virus, and recover without any problems. If the virus remains in the blood for more than six months, a person is then diagnosed as having a "chronic infection," or "chronic hepatitis B". Fortunately, 90% of healthy adults will recover and develop antibodies against the hepatitis B virus. Unfortunately, this is not true for babies and young children. About 90% of babies and 50% of young children are unable to get rid of the virus. People who recover from an acute hepatitis B infection will develop protective antibodies. After fighting the virus once, the body knows how to protect a person from getting a hepatitis B infection again. They become "immune" to the hepatitis B virus. For those who do not get rid of the virus after 6 months of infection, this means the virus may stay in the liver and blood a lifetime. These people are diagnosed as having chronic hepatitis B. Although most people with chronic hepatitis B have long, healthy lives, they do have a greater risk of developing serious liver disease later in life. The virus can quietly and continuously attack the liver over many years without being detected. The liver is a very important organ in the body. It helps digest food, absorb nutrients, resist infections, remove waste and poison from the body, and make proteins that help the blood clot. Without a functioning liver, a person will die within 1 to 2 days. In the liver, a chronic hepatitis B infection can lead to cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a condition where the cells of the liver are scarred by tissue fibers. This causes the liver to become less effective. With severe cirrhosis, the liver stops working. This is known as liver failure. A chronic hepatitis B infection can also lead to liver cancer over time. Regular evaluation by a physician (for example, a liver specialist), seeking treatment if appropriate, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help slow down possible liver damage from the hepatitis B virus. Symptoms Most people do not have symptoms during the acute hepatitis B infection stage. Signs and symptoms are less common in children than adults. Hepatitis B is often called a "silent infection" because most people do not know they have been infected. People with chronic hepatitis B can live for decades without having any symptoms. Even though they have no symptoms, the hepatitis B virus can be silently damaging the liver for years. This is why it is important for all people to know if they have been infected with hepatitis B. The symptoms are
Transmission A person can transmit hepatitis B to another through blood and infected bodily fluids. This can happen in the following ways:
Hepatitis B is NOT transmitted casually. It cannot be spread through sneezing, coughing, hugging or eating food prepared by someone who is infected. Everyone is at some risk of getting hepatitis B. However, there are people who have a higher risk because of their job or life choices. People whose job puts them in contact with blood include:
Diagnosis A simple blood test can easily diagnose a hepatitis B infection. The test looks for antigens and antibodies in your blood. If you think you were recently infected, it will be 4 to 6 weeks before the virus can be found in your blood. A blood test will show if:
If the test indicates that you have been infected with hepatitis B before but have since recovered, then you are immune. You cannot infect others and you do not need the vaccine. If the test shows you are infected, it could be a new acute infection or an old chronic infection that your body never fought off. Your doctor will give you another blood test and monitor your condition. Over the next 6 months after finding out you are infected, you will get another blood test. If the virus does not show up, you are immune to hepatitis B and cannot be infected again. If the virus is still present, you will be diagnosed as having chronic hepatitis B. If you have chronic hepatitis B, getting a regular checkup (every 6 months) with a liver specialist is very important. The doctor will do a physical exam, and order blood tests and an ultrasound imaging of your liver. Some of the blood tests the doctor will order include the ALT (a liver enzyme that can indicate liver damage), the viral load (amount of hepatitis B virus in the blood) and the AFP (a liver cancer marker). Some people might also need a biopsy. Treatment depends on the results of these tests and the patient’s health. Treatment For an acute hepatitis B infection, there is generally no treatment besides rest and managing any symptoms – the body will fight off the virus on its own. For chronic hepatitis B, there is still no complete cure. However, most people with chronic hepatitis B can expect to live a long, healthy life. There are treatments that help slow the progression of liver disease by slowing down the virus, although not all people with chronic hepatitis B need treatment. If less hepatitis B virus is produced, then less damage is done to the liver. Your doctor will probably want to see you at least once or twice a year to monitor your hepatitis B and the health of your liver. He or she can determine if you would benefit from treatment based on your blood tests and physical examination.
People with a chronic hepatitis B infection should also talk to their doctor about getting vaccinated against hepatitis A, another virus which attacks the liver and can be espe-cially harmful for someone with chronic hepatitis B. Eating habits There is no special diet for people with chronic hepatitis B. It is best to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that is low in fat and includes plenty of vegetables. You should avoid eating raw shellfish since they can contain bacteria that are harmful to your liver. Prevention Hepatitis B is 100 times more contagious than the AIDS virus, yet it can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine. Vaccination is necessary to protect everyone, especially infants and children. Without vaccination, about 90% of infants who get the virus develop chronic infections. The hepatitis B vaccine is considered one of the safest and most effective vaccines ever made. It cannot cause hepatitis B. The vaccine works for people who are not infected with the hepatitis B virus. People with acute or chronic hepatitis B do not benefit from the vaccine. Vaccination helps the body develop protective antibodies against the hepatitis B virus. With 3 separate shots, a person becomes immune to hepatitis B. Hepatitis B Vaccination schedule
Hepatitis B Vaccine Dosage information: Dosage :- Three doses, over a 6-month period Immunity :-
With all viral hepatitis vaccines, there is a minimum amount of time needed between doses, but there is no maximum. Patients never need to restart the series. Who should be in need of possibly Vaccinated
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