What Do You Need To Know About Hepatitis And Digestive Issues?
Vaccines are available for hepatitis A and B, and antiviral medications can effectively treat hepatitis C.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection characterised by inflammation, i.e., swelling and redness, of the liver. It can sometimes lead to permanent liver damage.
The liver is a major organ located on the right side of the abdomen. Under normal conditions, the liver performs the following functions:
In people with hepatitis B, the liver is unable to perform its normal functions. As a result, waste products begin building up in the blood and the body, resulting in various problems.
The infection develops either into an acute or a chronic condition:
The symptoms of hepatitis B range from mild to life-threatening. The severity of the symptoms depends on the age of the infected person. The infection usually does not show any symptoms in a majority of children aged below five years and in adults with a weakened immune system. However, the symptoms are often seen in 30-50% of infected people above five years of age. Some of the common symptoms of hepatitis B are given below:
Causes
Hepatitis B primarily spreads from one person to another when the hepatitis B virus present in the blood or body fluids (saliva, vaginal secretions or semen) of an infected person enters the bloodstream of a healthy person. Some of the common routes of transmission of hepatitis B virus are as follows:
Vaccination is the best method to prevent hepatitis B. People should make sure that they and their children are immunised. According to studies, vaccination protects from the virus for about 20 years. Other preventive measures that can help people reduce the risk of contracting hepatitis B include:
The following tests may be performed to diagnose Hepatitis B:
1. Physical examination: The doctor will perform a physical examination to look for signs of liver damage such as skin colour changes and swelling in the abdomen, ankles, feet or lower legs.
2. Blood test: Hepatitis is mainly diagnosed by a blood test that detects the presence of antibodies in the body. Antibodies are substances produced by the body’s immune system to fight off foreign objects like bacteria, viruses, etc. However, it takes about six months from the date of exposure for the body to produce enough antibodies against the hepatitis B virus that can be detected in the blood test. During this infection, a person who suspects being infected should take essential measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
3. Ultrasound: This test is performed to see whether the liver looks infected or damaged.
4. Biopsy: In people suspected of having chronic hepatitis B, the doctor may take a liver tissue sample by using a needle. This tissue sample is then studied under a microscope to diagnose the type and severity of liver disease.
The treatment available currently does not cure hepatitis B but aims to control its severity. The type of treatment decided by the doctor may vary depending on the person’s time of exposure to the virus.
People with hepatitis B should maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent further damage to the liver and support the body to fight off the infection. Few measures that one should incorporate in their life to lead a healthy lifestyle include:
Prognosis
People are nowadays better able to manage the infection and live a healthy life. People should make sure that they are immunised against hepatitis and undergo periodic check-ups from qualified healthcare providers. People with infection should discuss with the doctor before taking any new medicines as certain medicines such as acetaminophen can interfere with liver function and cause liver damage. Chronic hepatitis B is a chronic medical condition like high blood pressure, diabetes, etc., that can be effectively managed by undergoing regular check-ups and living a healthy lifestyle.
In people with a history of hepatitis B, certain conditions can reactivate the virus that may damage the liver and cause acute liver failure. Conditions that can reactivate the virus in the body include:
1. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Hepatitis B [Internet]. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/hepatitis/hepatitis-b#:~:text=Hepatitis%20B%20is%20a%20redness,%2C%20vaginal%20secretions%2C%20and%20saliva. Accessed on Feb 25, 2021.
2. familydoctor.org. Hepatitis B [Internet] [Updated Sep 22, 2020]. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/condition/hepatitis-b/. Accessed on Feb 25, 2021.
3. Health direct. Hepatitis B [Internet] [Updated May, 2020]. Available at: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/hepatitis-b. Accessed on Feb 25, 2021.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis B questions and answers for health professionals [Internet] [Updated Jul 28, 2020]. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/hbvfaq.htm#treatment. Accessed on Feb 25, 2021.
5. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Hepatitis B [Internet] [Updated Jun, 2020]. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/viral-hepatitis/hepatitis-b. Accessed on Feb 25, 2021.
6. BetterHealth Channel. Hepatitis B [Internet] [Updated Sep, 2018]. Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/hepatitis-b#:~:text=It%20is%20transmitted%20through%20contaminated,people%20in%20high%2Drisk%20groups. Accessed on Feb 25, 2021.
7. Cleveland Clinic. Hepatitis B [Internet] . Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4246-hepatitis-b. Accessed on Feb 25, 2021.
8. NHS. Hepatitis B [Internet] [Updated Jan 30, 2019]. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-b/. Accessed on Feb 25, 2021.
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Vaccines are available for hepatitis A and B, and antiviral medications can effectively treat hepatitis C.
By staying committed to innovation and global health equity, we can envisage a future where Hepatitis B is no longer a formidable health threat, and millions can live healthier lives.
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Read on to learn more about hepatitis, including causes, diagnosis, treatment as well as how you can prevent it.
Supporting your liver this World Hepatitis Day with these dietary recommendations
You may be preoccupied with your wedding planning and spending a fortune on your wedding attire, food and decor. Along with that, make sure you are enrolling for some health tests too.
Do not wait for hepatitis vaccination, diagnosis, and treatment. "Hepatitis Can't Wait" is the theme of World Hepatitis Day 2021.
Hepatitis can be termed as a silent epidemic as most of the people who have it are unaware of it, leading to serious consequences in later life.
Today, on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, it becomes necessary to know what exactly Hepatitis B is all about. Read on to know more.
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On World Hepatitis Day on 28th July, it is important to know that about 4 crore people in India are suffering from Hepatitis D and 80-90 lakh from hepatitis C, says Dr Ravi Gaur, COO, Oncquest Laboratories.
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