Hepatitis is the inflammation of liver and it can arise as a result of certain drugs, alcohol, chemicals, viral infections and autoimmune diseases. Hepatitis is characterized by swelling of the liver resulting in liver damage.
There are six currently identified strains of viral hepatitis—hepatitis A, B, C, D, E and G. Each strain is unique, differing from the others in severity and in the way it spreads. The most common hepatitis viruses are types A, B and C.
| | Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B can develop into a chronic infection and can lead to serious life-threatening complications such as liver failure, liver cancer or liver cirrhosis, a condition where the liver Cells die and are replaced by scar tissue and fat.
You can get infected with hepatitis B if you come in contact with the blood and/or body fluids of an infected person such as sharing infected needles—during drug abuse—or having unprotected sex. | | Pregnant women who are infected can pass on the infection to their babies during childbirth. Nurses, laboratory technicians and doctors can get infected if they come in touch with an infected person’s blood or accidentally puncture their skin with a needle that was used on an infected patient. You cannot get hepatitis B by casual contact, such as shaking hands or hugging an infected person.
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| | Symptoms of hepatitis B
If you have been infected with the HBV, it usually takes around 12 weeks for first signs and symptoms of the disease to appear. The symptoms can be mild or severe.
If you experience one or all of these symptoms (see Box), get in touch with your doctor immediately. Since the symptoms of hepatitis B do not show itself for almost more than 2½ months, it is important that you get yourself tested if you suspect you have the disease.
| | Symptoms of hepatitis B | | Nausea and vomiting. | | Abdominal pain. | | Loss of appetite. | | Yellow skin and yellowness around the whites of your eyes (a sign of jaundice). | | Body weakness. | | Extreme tiredness. | | Dark, tea-colored urine. | |
Blood tests are used to diagnose hepatitis B. Getting yourself tested can help you take necessary precautions in case the test turns out to be positive. You can also take necessary steps to prevent the disease from spreading to others.
| Acute and chronic hepatitis B
Hepatitis B infections can be acute or chronic. Symptoms of acute hepatitis are present for about 6 weeks and gradually disappear after that, with no long-term complications.
Chronic hepatitis, on the other hand, occurs when the liver has been damaged from the acute illness and cannot recover, leading to severe life-threatening complications.
Chronic hepatitis lasts for 6 months or longer. The time between the acute illness and signs of chronic hepatitis B varies. It may take a short time, or it may be years after the acute infection before chronic hepatitis B develops.
| | Complications
Chronic hepatitis B can lead to various complications of the liver—liver cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer. When the liver is damaged because of cirrhosis, it loses its capacity to flush out toxic body wastes which can be very harmful to your body. Although liver cirrhosis hardly exhibits any symptoms in the early stages of the disease, symptoms become more prominent as the disease progresses and liver damage becomes worse.
Some of the symptoms of liver damage are: | - Unexplained weight loss.
- Extreme tiredness.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Loss of appetite.
- Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice).
Individuals with hepatitis B are more prone to hepatitis D, an infection that spreads through contact with infected blood or other body fluids like Semen and vaginal secretions of hepatitis D infected individuals. Hepatitis D can only develop in people who already have hepatitis B and can worsen the symptoms of hepatitis B.
| Prevention
The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to have protected sex and to avoid sharing needles. Precaution should be also taken while going to the barber for hair cuts or manicuring of nails, as the tools should be sterilized properly. Hepatitis B can also be prevented by taking a vaccine that will protect you from getting the disease.
The vaccine is nowadays given regularly to newborn infants. Among adults, those at a high risk of getting infected—doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, drug users and people who have sexual contact with multiple partners—can also take this vaccine. Ask your doctor for more information on the preventive vaccines. | |
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