What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a viral infectious disease that reasons inflammation of liver. The inflammation damages the liver, and often results in liver failure.

Symptoms

People with hepatitis B are born with it. Often, the only symptoms they experience are occasional blood in the stool or blood in the urine. The blood in the stool may be blue-black.

More severe symptoms include jaundice, dark urine, joint pain, and fever.

The most obvious sign of hepatitis B is jaundice.

The discoloration of the skin and eyes, yellowing of the skin, and dark, tarry stools, particularly if they are dark brown or black, are all caused by an increased level of bilirubin in the blood.

An individual with hepatitis B will typically have a small skin rash, or non-itchy, red skin in the armpits and groin.

Other hepatitis B symptoms may include:

unexplained tiredness

light-colored stools

inability to digest milk and dairy products

nausea and vomiting

pain in the stomach and abdomen

yellow skin or eyes

Less commonly, a person may notice:

blurred vision

bruising easily

yellow skin

severe muscle pain

Experiencing the sensation of pain in the upper part right side of the chest

Causes and risk factors

People can get hepatitis B from having sex with someone who is infected. The infection can be spread through sexual intercourse and from sharing contaminated needles.

Hepatitis B is usually spread during childbirth. If a woman has the virus, it can be passed to the baby during childbirth.

In the United States, most cases are acquired through sexual contact.

Hepatitis B is also found in:

untreated wounds

physical contact with infected blood

chronic, poorly treated drug and alcohol users

for many years after an injection or injection injection site injury

healthcare personnel, such as nurses or health care workers who do needle sticks

healthcare workers who are not wearing gloves or changing needles

protecting contaminated surfaces and hands from a person who is bleeding or may be at risk of infection.

Hepatitis B affects those who have not been vaccinated or have not received the proper course of vaccination. The hepatitis B virus is spread by faecal-oral transmission from one person to another.

The hepatitis B virus infects the liver. It is considered to be the most serious of all the hepatitis viruses. Most people who have hepatitis B are asymptomatic.

In those with chronic liver disease, where the liver has not been able to work as well as it should, the liver may become damaged or scarred, making it harder for it to function properly.

With the loss of some of the normal enzymes that help break down alcohol, alcohol is able to damage the liver cells, especially in those with chronic hepatitis B. Over time, this damage can lead to liver failure and liver cancer.

The majority of people who have hepatitis B have no symptoms or only mild symptoms. However, in about 5–10 percent of people, some or all of their blood may be infected with the hepatitis B virus.

In addition to getting tested for hepatitis B, people who have symptoms that are not related to alcohol may wish to get tested for hepatitis B.

Fast facts on hepatitis B

There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis B.

The condition is usually found in people born to an infected mother or who have multiple episodes of liver problems.

Most people are infected at birth and do not have symptoms for many years.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that people who have hepatitis B receive preventive treatment.

The first dose of antiviral medication is given to a person at age 15. They then receive a second dose every six months until they have received at least four doses.

Hepatitis B is treatable, so it is crucial to take the medication and follow any instructions given to prevent further damage.

If a person does not have the virus or has recently been vaccinated, they will not develop liver disease.

Prevention from hepatitis B

If you're a non-smoker and have had an alcoholic beverage within the last two days, make sure to get your Hepatitis B vaccine within 10 days of your exposure, says Dr. Gene S. Barry, professor of epidemiology at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

If you've never been vaccinated against hepatitis B, speak with your doctor about getting your first dose now.

Hepatitis B can cause scarring of the liver, which leads to further damage if left untreated. The virus is most often spread by blood-to-blood contact, such as sharing a needle or syringe, or through unprotected sex or other intimate contact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If you think you have hepatitis B, contact your primary care doctor or infectious disease specialist as soon as possible to get the vaccination, or talk to your pharmacist about the latest options.

To prevent infection from hepatitis B, one should use gloves while handling injection and syringes. The use of gloves can reduce the risk of blood contamination. The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to avoid sharing needles with a partner who is infected.

To prevent hepatitis B, one should not share a needle or a syringe with a partner who has hepatitis B. One should also not share a drug with a partner who has hepatitis B.

Treatment

Currently, there is no cure for hepatitis B. According to the World Health Organization, the treatment for hepatitis B infection is symptomatic.

Symptomatic treatment includes:

massage

clarifying the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat

tying the mouth, nose, and throat

taking rest

having hydration every 3 to 4 hours

Taking those drugs 3 to 4 times a day can help relieve symptoms. However, the main treatment for hepatitis B is long-term, a combination of vaccines and antiviral medications.

These medications may treat symptoms of hepatitis B, but they will not cure it. This is why antiviral medications are important.

In people with chronic hepatitis B infection, who experience recurring episodes of the illness, doctors may recommend following a strict diet and taking additional antiviral medications.

People can help prevent hepatitis B infection by preventing blood-borne transmission. This can include safer sex and safe needle-sharing practices.

People should always wash their hands after touching an infected person.

People with hepatitis B infection may have also developed jaundice or have bloody diarrhea. The combination can cause dehydration and lead to serious illness.

Anyone who is concerned about a person with hepatitis B may want to have them tested. If the person has any of these symptoms, they should contact a doctor right away.

Outlook

A person with hepatitis B will normally feel better with time. They may have to take the antiviral medication alberixir or ribavirin for the rest of their life.

If a person has multiple episodes of liver problems, they may need medical help. A doctor may need to perform surgery on the liver to correct problems caused by the infection.

Although a person who is currently infected with hepatitis B may not be at increased risk of liver cancer, research suggests this may not be the case for the long term.

Outlooks can vary, depending on the severity of the hepatitis B infection and how the infection progresses over time.

The results of liver biopsy may indicate the stage and severity of the condition.