Hepatitis B is a lifelong liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer, with different consequences from a mild disease. Hepatitis B is caused by Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).
What is Hepatitis B?
It is caused by Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Hepatitis B can be acute or chronic. Acute HBV infection occurs after a person is infected with HBV. If acute HBV infection lasts longer than six months, the infection becomes chronic. Chronic infection usually continues for life.
How is Hepatitis B Virus Transmitted?
Hepatitis B virus is transmitted by the entry of an infected person's blood, semen, vaginal fluid or other body fluids into a person's body. Transmission routes:
- Birth (transmission from an infected mother to her baby during birth),
- After sexual intercourse with an infected partner (via semen or vaginal fluid),
- Injector used in drug injection etc. with the common use of materials,
- razor, toothbrush, etc. It is transmitted by the common use of materials,
- After direct contact with an infected person's blood or an open wound,
- By contact with blood through injector or other sharp instrument injuries
Which Ways Hepatitis B Virus Is Not Transmitted?
HBV is not transmitted by eating from the same container, consuming common food or water, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, shaking hands, coughing, sneezing, using the same toilet. It is not transmitted by using, swimming in the pool, playing with toys, traveling in the same vehicle.
What to do when it is suspected that hepatitis B virus is infected?
A physician should be consulted immediately for treatment. Treatment is provided by a hepatitis vaccine and an antibody called hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG). Treatment should be started as soon as possible for the effectiveness of the treatment.
What are the Symptoms of Acute Hepatitis B Infection?
Acute Hepatitis B (newly occurring infection) may not cause any symptoms. Children are more likely to be asymptomatic. It progresses with symptoms at a rate of 70% in adults. The most common symptoms are:
- Fever
- Weakness
- Anorexia
- Nausea-vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine color
- Jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin)
- Joint pain.
How is acute hepatitis B treated?
There is no specific treatment for acute hepatitis B. Bed rest, adequate fluid and food intake are generally recommended. However, people with severely impaired general health may need to be hospitalized.
What are the Symptoms of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection?
If hepatitis B infection persists for more than 6 months, that is, during this period, the person's immunity If the system cannot produce antibodies to the disease, it is called chronic hepatitis B disease.
Chronic Hepatitis B lasts for a long time (up to 20-30 years) and does not give any symptoms. However, the disease continues to adversely affect the liver. After a certain period of time, 15-25% of chronic hepatitis B patients develop serious liver diseases such as cirrhosis (a disease that leads to impaired liver function and liver failure) or liver cancer. Some people who develop liver disease may not have any symptoms. Chronic Hepatitis B is a serious and progressive disease because it causes health problems. At the same time, these patients can infect people around them.
How to Identify People Carrier of Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B status of a person can be detected with simple blood tests. As a result of the test, the following conclusions can be reached:
• Presence of acute or chronic Hepatitis B,• Hepatitis B has been past and healed (antibodies have been developed),• Vaccine can be beneficial. They have gained immunity and do not become infected with the Hepatitis B Virus again.
How is Chronic Hepatitis B Treated?
Chronic Hepatitis B patients should be followed up by specialist physicians. Chronic hepatitis B patients should be followed regularly for disease development and treatment options. All chronic hepatitis No treatment is required in patients with it B. There are many drug options available for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.
With treatment, the disease can be effectively controlled and consequences such as liver failure, cirrhosis or liver cancer can be prevented. Although hepatitis B virus can be effectively controlled with treatment, it is usually not possible to completely remove it from the body.
What Should Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Do to Protect Their Livers?
Patients should be followed regularly by experienced physicians. They should avoid alcohol and consult a doctor before taking any medication. In addition, herbal or various supplements should be avoided as they potentially harm the liver.
Can Hepatitis B Be Prevented?
The most effective way to prevent hepatitis B is to be vaccinated. Hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective (provides over 90% protection). As a vaccination scheme, it is usually applied 3 times within 6 months. The vaccine is repeated in people with kidney failure and other immunocompromised people. Reminder vaccine dose is not applied to people other than this. Individuals who are at risk for hepatitis B, such as young people and those with hepatitis B infection in their families, health workers, and risky sexual partners, should have hepatitis B vaccine because there is a risk of close contact with blood.
Is Hepatitis B Infection Transmitted to Baby During Pregnancy?
Hepatitis B is mostly transmitted to baby during delivery. However, if the hepatitis B level is very high in the mother, there is a possibility of transmission to the baby in the last period of pregnancy. In case of the presence of hepatitis B in the mother, the baby is given the vaccine and HBIG serum as soon as possible (within 12 hours) after birth. In addition, some treatments can be applied to pregnant women with very high hepatitis B levels in the last period of pregnancy.
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