Hepatitis B infection: An overview

Hepatitis B transmittal An overviewHEPATITIS BWhat is hepatitis B?Hepatitis B is a liver-colored transmitting ca engagementd by the hepatitis B virus. Chronic hepatitis B is a long-term infection of the liver that can sometimes develop after a daily round of acute or short term, hepatitis B.How does a person come up hepatitis B?The virus that causes hepatitis B is spread through contact with infected extraction or other carcass fluids of people who dumbfound hepatitis B. For example, you can throw hepatitis B by having unprotected fetch up with an infected person.People who use intravenous drugs can get hepatitis B when they sh ar needles with individual who has the virus. wellness care workers, such as nurses, lab technicians and doctors, can get these infections if they are accident each(prenominal)y stuck with a needle that was use on an infected patient. with child(predicate) women who are infected with hepatitis B can excessively pass the virus on to their babies. Hepatitis B cannot be transmitted through casual contact. For example, you cannot get hepatitis B by hugging or shaking hands with someone who is infected.How long does it take chronic hepatitis to develop after acute hepatitis B?The time between the acute illness and signs of chronic hepatitis B varies. It whitethorn take a short time, or it whitethorn be years after the acute infection before chronic hepatitis B develops.How is hepatitis B identifyd?Blood tests are used to diagnose hepatitis B. Blood tests can evidence your doctor whether your liver is working properly, and they can also be used to follow your condition during treatment. Your doctor may want to look at your liver with an ultrasound exam or x-rays. A liver biopsy may also be needed. With a liver biopsy, a small cull of the liver is removed through a needle and looked at chthonian a microscope. A liver biopsy can help your doctor diagnose your illness and see the condition of your liver directly.What are the s ymptoms of hepatitis B?The symptoms of hepatitis B are nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, jaundice (the skin turns yellow), weakness, fatigue, or cook urine (may look like tea),Symptoms of hepatitis B can range from bonkers to severe. If you have a mild case of hepatitis, you may not regular realize that you have it. It may not cause symptoms or may only cause symptoms similar to the stomach flu.What are the complications of chronic hepatitis B?People with chronic hepatitis B may not have whatever symptoms at all. In some people, chronic hepatitis can occupy to cirrhosis of the liver of the liver. Cirrhosis occurs when the liver cells die and are replaced by scar tissue paper and fat. The damaged areas of the liver stop working and cant cleanse the body of wastes. The early stages of cirrhosis may not have symptoms, but the pastime symptoms may arise as cirrhosis gets worse and more of the liver is damaged weight loss, fatigue, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite, Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure and even liver cancer.If you have hepatitis B, you are also susceptible to hepatitis D (also called Delta agent). Hepatitis D can only develop in people who already have hepatitis B. It can make your symptoms of hepatitis B or liver disease worse. It is spread through contact with infected decline or other body fluids of people who have hepatitis D.How is chronic hepatitis B treated?If you have chronic hepatitis B, your family physician will probably name you to a gastroenterologist or other subspecialist that treats people with chronic liver problems. in that location are a number of medical treatments available that are a great deal successful. These include Interferon alfa-2b and other antiviral medicines. Treatment may take a year or more, depending on the severity of the infection and the response to treatment. stinker hepatitis B be prevented?The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to have protected sex (use a condom) an d to avoid sharing needles.A vaccinum is available to prevent hepatitis B. It is now routinely given in the prototypal year of life to all newborn infants. It is safe and requires 3 shots over a 6-month period. This vaccine should be given to people who are at high risk for this illness, such as health care workers, all children, drug users, people who get tattoos or body piercing, and those with multiple sex partners. (Hepatitis B, 2007a) (Hepatitis B, 2007b) (Viral hepatitis B, 2007) ReferencesHepatitis B. (2007). Retrieved December 30, 2007, from eMedicine Health website http//www.emedicinehealth.com/hepatitis_b/article_em.htmHepatitis B. (2007). Retrieved December 30, 2007, from World Health Organization website http//www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs204/en/Viral hepatitis B. (2007). Retrieved December 30, 2007, from CDC website http//www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/b/