Hepatitis B is a global Health issue. According to the World Health Organization approximately 296 million people have become the victim of chronic Hepatitis B infection. Do you know what Hepatitis B is? Don’t be worried. We are here to explain in a detailed way. It is a viral infection that mainly attacks the liver. Medical studies show that it can lead to severe and serious types of other diseases as well. For a speedy and effective treatment it is really important to know its symptoms, prevention and treatment options. This particular article is all about. Without any further delay let’s talk about it in a detailed way.
What Is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B virus HBV is the major culprit to create hepatitis B. Now the question is how this virus transmits in humans? This virus is transmitted through the contact with infectious body fluids such as vaginal secretions, Siemens and blood. This virus primarily attacks liver cells causing inflammation or even damage. Infection which is caused by hepatitis B virus can be both acute and chronic. Here acute means short term infection and chronic mean long term infection. Try to understand that chronic infection is really very dangerous as it can be the result of some other complicated issues like liver cancer or cirrhosis.
Symptoms
Symptoms of hepatitis B depend on the infection whether it is chronic or acute. First of all, here in the following we will talk about acute Hepatitis B symptoms .
Acute Hepatitis B
In Medical terms the initial infection caused by hepatitis B virus is called acute Hepatitis B. This initial infection can be of different types due to its characteristics. It can be minor to severe. In most of the cases symptoms do not appear on the initial stage especially in children. Most of the time it starts to appear after one to four months of HBV virus attack. Common symptoms in this case are as follows:
✓Fever
✓Loss of appetite
✓Fatigue
✓Abdominal pain
✓Nausea and vomiting
✓Joint pain
✓Dark urine
✓Jaundice
Chronic Hepatitis B
Let’s try to understand what chronic Hepatitis B is. This is a long term infection of HBV which happens due to the weakness of the immune system. Due to the weekend immune system it cannot remove or eliminate virus that makes it chronic. You will be surprised to know that some affected people of chronic Hepatitis B remain undetectable even for years or decades. However it is very important to know symptoms because it can lead to several other serious health issues. Some common symptoms are as follows.
Persistent Fatigue
In chronic Hepatitis B patients start feeling tiredness or laziness in a consistent way. This type of tiredness does not improve only with enough rest or sleeping.
Abdominal Pain
In chronic Hepatitis B an affected person feels pain in the upper right abdomen which can be constant or periodic.
Swelling
Sometimes patients can experience swelling in the abdomen or legs. This happens due to the addition of fluid in that particular area.
Jaundice
Jaundice is another serious symptom that you can observe in case of hepatitis B. In this case skin and eyes become yellowish.
Weight Loss
This is actually a common symptom both in case of hepatitis B and C. A person starts to lose weight to a greater extent even without notice.
Prevention
Why is it important to adopt preventive measures in case of hepatitis B? Due to its complications it becomes really important to treat in time in order to prevent other possible health issues like liver damage. Some of the important preventive measures are as follows.
Vaccination
If you want to prevent yourself from the possible attack of Hepatitis B then must vaccinate yourself. This vaccine is mostly given in a series of phases. Mostly it is given after 3 to 4 months. This vaccine is recommended for the followings:
✓Infants
✓Children
✓Adults with high risk
Safe Practices
As we have discussed earlier, Hepatitis B transmits from the connection of the infectious body. So it becomes important to adopt safe practices in order to reduce the risk. Some tips for as follows.
Avoid Sharing Needles
Don’t share needles or syringes with anyone.
Personal Hygiene
It is better to avoid sharing your personal used items such as razors, tooth brushes and nail clippers.
Safe Sex Practices
It is really important to adopt safe practices during sex. The use of condoms and relying on one sex partner instead of many can save you from Hepatitis B.
Screening Blood and Organ Donations
When you make a decision to donate your blood or organ then it is important first to go through a screening process to make sure that it is safe in case of hepatitis B virus.
Maternal Transmission
There are also chances of transmission of hepatitis B virus from pregnant women to newly born children. It is Important to test the pregnant women in order to make sure that there is any chances of the presence of HBV. If A pregnant woman is found to be infected by the virus then make sure to give her newly born baby a vaccination of hepatitis B and hepatitis B immune globulin within 12 hours after birth. This is very important in order to prevent the possible transmission of the virus from mother to child.
Treatment
Treatment option of hepatitis B is different due to its characteristics. So here we will talk about an effective treatment option both in case of acute and chronic Hepatitis B. Let’s have a look.
Acute Hepatitis B Treatment
Acute hepatitis B is not difficult primarily in treating. In most of the cases it recovers itself by implementing some of the specific treatment options. Let’s have a look.
Rest
If you find symptoms of acute Hepatitis B then the first thing that you can do is to make sure that you are sleeping perfectly. With good rest and sleeping you will help your body to fight against the infection.
Hydration
Infection created by hepatitis B increases the chances of dehydration. So in this case it is very important to drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.
Avoid Alcohol
If you are alcohol addicted then you must avoid or stop alcohol in case of Hepatitis B. If you do not avoid taking alcohol then it can damage your liver severely.
Chronic Hepatitis B
Due to the complexity in chronic Hepatitis B its treatment is different from acute hepatitis B. Some of the important treatment options are as follows.
Antiviral Medicines
In case of chronic Hepatitis B antiviral medicines are really very important due to their specific characteristics. These medicines help to reduce the number of viruses in the body and slow down their movements towards liver disease. Some of the common antiviral medicines that are used in case of chronic Hepatitis B are tenofovir, lamivudine and entecavir.
Regular Monitoring
It is very important to monitor the condition in case of chronic Hepatitis B. For this purpose blood tests are very important in order to keep a close eye and analyze the functionality of the liver.
Lifestyle Changes
By modifying your lifestyle you can prevent Hepatitis B from becoming even more dangerous. Maintain a Healthy lifestyle, manage your weight and stop drinking alcohol. By implementing these practices you can improve your quality of life.
Liver Transplant
In case of liver damage or its failure to perform functions then you may have to go for liver transplant.
Living with Hepatitis B
It seems to be very challenging living with Hepatitis B but it is not so much of a challenge when you go towards its treatment. With the help of changes in your lifestyle and medical treatment you can beat this viral infection. There are some important points that you have to keep in mind. Let’s have a look.
Regular Medical Checkups
In case of hepatitis B it is crucial to go for regular medical checkups to a professional Healthcare provider in order to detect any possible complication in time.
Healthy Diet
Eat healthy foods and maintain a balance in your diet. When you eat good foods then you not only support your liver to perform well but also it is important for your overall health.
Stop Taking Drugs And Alcohol
If you want to keep your liver healthy and avoid Hepatitis B then stop taking any drugs or alcohol. It is because these substances increase risk of liver damage.
Exercise
If you exercise daily then you can make your health up to the mark.
Mental Health Support
In most of the chronic diseases that actually continue for a longer period of time it becomes very challenging for a person to tackle them. For this reason mental health support is really very important. You can get this support from your friends and family or by joining support groups.
Conclusion
Hepatitis B is a complicated health condition that mainly affects the liver. It is actually a viral infection disease and global Health challenge. This viral infection can be very dangerous if it is not treated in time. It can lead to some other fatal diseases and even can result in liver failure. Due to its complex characteristics it is very important to know what its symptoms are and what are its treatment options and how to prevent it.
Remember vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent Hepatitis B to a greater extent. With proper diagnosis and effective treatment many people around the world are living healthy lives.