Hepatitis B /What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B /What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis virus B. The virus invades the liver cells and causes inflammation. In some cases, the infection may stay for years. The infected person does not know that they have the infection in their body. It can multiply rapidly in liver cells, causing inflammation and damage to the liver.

Hepatitis transmission

Hepatitis B virus can be transmitted through blood, semen and other secretions such as lymph.

Having sex with an infected person without using a condom. Kissing is not contagious if the lips are not wounded.
Sharing needles.
Using tattoo needles or colors used in tattoos together and ear piercing.
Sharing toothbrushes, razors, and nail clippers.
An infected mother can transmit it to the baby during delivery. If the mother is infected, the child has a 90% chance of being infected.
Being pierced by a needle from work.
Homosexuality with an infected person.
Contact with blood, blood, secretions through the wound.

Symptoms of hepatitis B patients will appear 45-90 days after infection. In some cases, there are up to 180 days. For the acute symptoms, they will show fatigue, loss of appetite, body aches, fever, distension, liquid stools for 4-15 days. After that, they will be yellow body, yellow eyes, dark colored urine, Jaundice. Those will disappear within 1-4 weeks. In some cases, it may take up to 6 weeks to be able to work normally.

Effects of hepatitis B virus

After hepatitis B infection, the disease prognosis as follows:

90% of patients are cured, that is, the liver function returns to normal and have immunity within 10 weeks. Some patients are diagnosed with hepatitis B virus HbAg⁺ but their liver function is normal. These can be called carriers and transmit to other people. 5-10% will have chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis patients will have abnormal liver function for at least 6 months and the infection will always be detected. This group of patients will have inflammation of the liver from time to time. Some people have cirrhosis. Some people have liver cancer.

Even though you have no symptoms, you can get hepatitis.

People who are carriers of this disease show no symptoms, causing a misinformation of infection. That leads to a negative effect, causing the infection to others. Therefore, before getting married or having sex, hepatitis should be checked first. For diagnosis, the doctor will do the blood test for liver function and viral hepatitis.

Treatment diagnosis

The doctor will do the blood test for liver function and viral hepatitis. Most of patients will recover by resting, eating with non-lipid food. The use of interferon or lamivudine drugs should be under the supervision of a physician.

Hepatitis B vaccination

If you are infected with hepatitis B, what will you do?

Once you have been diagnosed with hepatitis B, you should ask for medical advice on how to take care of yourself. Moreover, you must take into account close people as well because you may be able to spread the infection to close people.

How to do if you have an infection in your body.

If you have hepatitis B, you don’t need to worry. Most patients will recover on their own by their immunity.
Take your medication and follow your doctor's advice.
Get regular blood tests because blood tests will tell if your liver is more or less inflamed.
Inform your close people. If close people do not have immunity, they must be vaccinated to prevent hepatitis.
Have safe sex by wearing a condom.
Do not donate blood.
Do not drink alcohol liquor.
Do not take medication without consulting a doctor.
Get enough rest.