English
Hindi
What Is Hepatitis B? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Overview
Table of Contents
Hepatitis B is an acute or a chronic severe viral disease that causes infection in your liver by the hepatitis B virus. The infection is very common and More than one million people word widely get affected by hepatitis B every single year. The disease if ignored and left non-treated can lead to permanent liver damage or even cause liver cancer.
However, fortunately, a vaccine for hepatitis B is available to prevent hepatitis B but there is no sure cure for the disease. Even the world health organization have stated hepatitis B is a major global health concern. There are various causes of hepatitis B like getting a tattoo, kissing, sexual intercourse, sharing things like personal trimmers, sex toys, toothpaste and other such things.
Symptoms of hepatitis B
The symptoms of hepatitis B vary from person to person depending upon their condition whether the situation is mild, moderate or severe. Some of the signs and symptoms that a hepatitis B patient can experience include –
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Moderate or severe fever
• Pain in the abdomen
• Appetite loss
• Body aches
• Weakness and restlessness
• Fatigue
• Jaundice
• Change in urine colour
• Stomach ache
When to consult a specialist ?
You need to seek medical attention if the symptoms like fever, weakness and others are visible and it does not improve within a week.
Causes of hepatitis B
• Sex which is unprotected
• Sharing syringes and needles
• If the mother has hepatitis B during pregnancy, then it can transmit to the child
• Getting tattoo
• Using other razors, trimmer, toothbrush , sex toys
• Body piercing
• Getting in contact with a person who is already infected by hepatitis B.
• Going for certain kinds of medication for a long time
• Having multiple sex partners or dating someone who has multiple partners
• Living in places like America, Africa, pacific island, east Europe
Complications associated with hepatitis B include –
• Cirrhosis or liver scarring
• Liver damage
• Liver cancer
• Swelling of blood vessels
• Kidney disease
• Heart disease
Prevention of hepatitis B –
• Vaccine must be taken
• Use condoms and other precautions while having sex
• Do not use unsterilized syringes
• Use precautional measures like equipment hygiene, environmental toxins and other things while going for piercing or tattooing
• Do not share your personal types of equipment with others
• Stay away from those who are affected by hepatitis B
• Get yourself and your partner tested for hepatitis B.
Misconceptions created by hepatitis B
Fact – there is no study or scientific proof for thus . Hepatitis is not hereditary.
Fact – although there is no complete cure for chronic hepatitis , still the situations are very well manageable if done with full dedication and proper treatment.
Fact – Hepatitis is spread through body fluids and sex is not the only reason for spread if hepatitis. So it cannot be clearly stated as an STD.
Fact – hepatitis can transmit though bodily fluids only and there is no intimate contact in handshakes . So it cannot spread in such way.
Fact – the vaccines do not have any serious side effects. The effects like headache or body ache stays only for 24 hours and then get away from your body.
Diagnosis –
• Blood sample
• Ultrasound of the liver
• Screening tests
• Liver biopsy
Treatments for hepatitis B –
• Immunoglobulin injection for acute hepatitis
• Antiviral medications like entecavir, tenofovir, Epivir and telbivudine reduce the power of the virus in your body.
• Surgery involves liver transplantation
Frequently asked questions -
Answer – no , hepatitis B is not a life time disease . There are very rare case where the disease stays with the person forever.
Answer – yes , taking care of the important precautional measures , you can surely bear a safe and healthy baby.
Answer – no , there is no such case yet.
Answer – yes , if you ignore your hepatitis disease , it can create life threatening disease for you like permanent liver damage , kidney and heart disease which can cause death.
Answer – yes , you will get hepatitis through saliva touching kiss.
