Read about Hepatitis B

Read about Hepatitis B

  02:08    Unknown

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Read about Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a serious infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). For some people, hepatitis B infection becomes chronic, meaning it lasts more than six months. Having chronic hepatitis B increases the risk of developing liver failure, liver cancer or cirrhosis – a condition that causes permanent scarring of the liver.

Most people infected with hepatitis B as adults fully recover, even if their signs and symptoms are severe. Infants and children are more likely to develop chronic hepatitis B infection. A vaccine can prevent hepatitis B, but no cure if available. If you are infected, taking certain precautions can help prevent transmission of HBV to others.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of hepatitis B, ranging from mild to severe, Appear Usually one to four months acerca after you ‘ve been infected. Signs and symptoms of hepatitis B may include:

abdominal pain
Dark urine
Fever
joint pain
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Weakness and fatigue
Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
When to see a doctor

If you know you ‘ve been exposed to hepatitis B, contact your physician Immediately. A preventive treatment reduces your risk of May infection if you receive the treatment within 24 hours of exposure to the virus.

If you think You have signs or symptoms of hepatitis B, contact your doctor.

Causes

Hepatitis B infection is caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). The virus is transmitted from person to person through blood, semen or other body fluids.

The most common forms is transmitted HBV include:

Sexual contact. You can become infected if you have unprotected sex with an infected partner whose blood, saliva, semen or vaginal secretions enter your body.
Needle exchange. HBV is easily transmitted through contaminated needles and syringes with infected blood. Share intravenous (IV) drug paraphernalia puts at high risk of hepatitis B.
accidental needlesticks. Hepatitis B is a concern for health workers and anyone else who comes into contact with human blood.
Mother to child. Pregnant women infected with HBV can transmit the virus to their babies during childbirth. However, the newly born be immunized to prevent infection in almost all cases. Talk to your doctor about testing for hepatitis B if you are pregnant or want to become pregnant.
Acute chronic hepatitis B

Hepatitis B infection can be short term (acute) or long-term (chronic).

acute hepatitis B lasts less than six months. Your immune system can probably clear the hepatitis B Acute your body, and you should recover completely within a few months. Most people who contract hepatitis B as adults have an acute infection, but can lead to chronic infection.
Chronic hepatitis B infection lasts for six months or more. When the immune system can not fight acute infection, hepatitis B infection can last a lifetime, which can lead to serious diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The younger is when hepatitis B is acquired – particularly newborns or children under 5 – the greater the risk of infection becomes chronic. Chronic infection can go undetected for decades until a person becomes seriously ill from liver disease.

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