Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is swelling and irritation (inflammation) of the liver due to infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Treatment

Acute hepatitis needs no treatment other than careful monitoring of liver and other body functions with blood tests. The patient needs to get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids and eat healthy.

Rarely develops liver failure, but if so, you may need to do a liver transplant. Liver transplantation is the only way to guarantee a cure in some cases.

Some patients with chronic hepatitis may be treated with antiviral drugs or a drug called pegylated interferon. These drugs can reduce or eliminate hepatitis B blood and reduce the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The transplant is to treat severe liver damage caused by chronic hepatitis B.

Patients with chronic hepatitis should avoid alcohol and always check with your doctor or nurse before taking any over the counter medicine or herbal supplements. What even includes medications such as acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen.

Prevention

All children should receive their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth and should complete the series of three vaccines until 6 months. Young people under 19 who have not been vaccinated should update their vaccines.

People at high risk of contamination, including health professionals and those who live with someone who has hepatitis B need to be vaccinated.

Newborns whose mothers are infected with hepatitis B at the time or have had the infection should receive a special vaccination that includes hepatitis B immune globulin and hepatitis B immunization in the first 12 hours of life.

The screening of all donated blood has reduced the chances of contamination by hepatitis B in blood transfusion. A notifiable disease allows health professionals to track people who were exposed to the virus. The vaccine is given to those who have not yet developed the disease.

The vaccine or the hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) may help prevent infection if applied up to 24 hours after exposure.

Habits to prevent transmission of hepatitis B:

• Avoid sexual contact with a person who has acute or chronic hepatitis B.

• Use condoms and practice safe sex.

• Avoid using personal belongings of others, such as razors or toothbrushes.

• Do not share drug needles or instruments of other drugs (such as straws for sniffing drugs).

• Clean blood stains with a solution containing 1 part bleach to 10 of water.

Hepatitis B (and hepatitis C) can not be transmitted by casual contact such as holding hands, sharing cutlery or cups, feeding, kissing, hugging, coughing or sneezing.