Hepatitis B: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Hepatitis B is viral illness that affects the liver and results in both acute and chronic diseases. It’s important to understand the cap, symptoms and care approaches for its prevention and control.

Causes of Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is primarily transmitted through:

Blood: The use of the same needles or other pieces of equipment for injecting drugs can help the spread of HBV.
Sexual Contact: Having unprotected intercourse boosts the risk of transmission of the virus between partners.
Mother to Child: That is why, it is safer for the mother to undergo delivery through a C-section because during delivery a pregnant infected woman can spread the virus to her baby.
Contaminated Surfaces: While less frequent, hepatitis B virus can exist on surfaces and the disease can be acquired through contact with infected blood.
Certain factors can increase the risk of infection, including:

Staying in or visiting areas that are endemic for Hepatitis B.
Two: Engaging in sexual activities with more than one partner.
They include; persons belonging to specific high-risk groups like gay and bisexual men, persons with chronic liver diseases among others.

Symptoms of Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B can also present with wide ranging symptoms. Some individuals may remain asymptomatic, while others may experience:

Acute Hepatitis B Symptoms
These symptoms typically appear 1 to 4 months after exposure to the virus and may include:

Fatigue
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
Abdominal pain especially localized to the right hypochondria
Dark urine
Light-colored stools
Jaundice which is the yellowing of the skin and the eyes.
Chronic Hepatitis B Symptoms
Serum alkaline phosphatase is often normal but rises with severe liver diseases such as cirrhosis or liver cancer in patients with chronic infection that may remain latent for years. Symptoms of chronic infection may include:
Ongoing fatigue
Chronic aching pain in belly
Easy bruising
Enlargement of the face, legs, or arms (testicular or, less commonly, ovarian)
Treatment for Hepatitis B
Even though hepatitis B is a viral infection, its management depends with the duration of the infection.

Acute Hepatitis B
About one-half to two-thirds of adult patients with acute Hepatitis B do not require any treatment at all since they recover without complications. Supportive care is often recommended, which includes:
.Rest
. Adequate hydration
. Use of pain relievers with or without prescription
Chronic Hepatitis B
In the case of a chronic virus, antiviral drugs will be required to suppress the virus and prevent further related injury to the liver. Common treatments include:

Nucleotide/nucleoside analogs: The drugs that is effective in decreasing HBV replication includes tenofovir and entecavir.
Interferon therapy: This can activate the immune system to overpower the virus but because of its side effects is not as common as the other two.
It recommended that the patient undergo ordinary blood tests, particularly checking the liver function to establish its condition and to ensure that some complication is not present. Sometimes, a liver biopsy may be necessary in order to determine the amount of liver function is impaired.

Vaccination and Prevention
Preventing Hepatitis B is therefore highly effective by way of immunisation. Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for infants, people in health care setting and those individuals who are at risk of contact with hepatitis B virus. Further, safe sex, no sharing of needles, and the use of sterile utensils in tattoos, and piercings can also help contain transmission.

Conclusion

Hepatitis B is a major health problem affecting millions of people all over the world but by educating people on its causes, signs and treatment people can keep it under check. The long-term consequences of the virus can however, be reduced if the patient is identified early enough and put under the necessary treatment. Screening and vaccination from the virus persist as the main ways to prevent Hepatitis B.