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Hepatitis B

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What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the liver due to the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Other types of hepatitis include: Hepatitis A Hepatitis C Hepatitis D See also: Autoimmune hepatitis Chronic persistent hepatitis Drug-induced hepatitis



Alternative names



Causes

The hepatitis B virus spreads through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and other body fluids. Infection can occur if you have: Blood transfusions Contact with blood in health care settings Had direct contact with the blood of an infected person by touching an open wound or been stuck with a needle Had unsafe sex with an infected person Received a tattoo or acupuncture with contaminated instruments Shared needles during drug use Shared personal items (such as toothbrushes, razors, and na...



What is Hepatitis B?

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

Other types of hepatitis include:

See also:

Causes

The hepatitis B virus spreads through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and other body fluids. Infection can occur if you have:

  • Blood transfusions
  • Contact with blood in health care settings
  • Had direct contact with the blood of an infected person by touching an open wound or been stuck with a needle
  • Had unsafe sex with an infected person
  • Received a tattoo or acupuncture with contaminated instruments
  • Shared needles during drug use
  • Shared personal items (such as toothbrushes, razors, and nail clippers) with an infected person

The hepatitis B virus can be passed to an infant during childbirth if the mother is infected.

The risk of becoming chronically infected depends on your age at the time of infection. Most newborns and about 50% of children infected with hepatitis B develop chronic hepatitis. Only a few adults infected with HBV develop the chronic condition.

Most of the damage from the hepatitis B virus is due to the body's response to the infection. When the body's immune system detects the infection, it sends out special cells to fight it off. However, these disease-fighting cells can lead to liver inflammation.

The liver damage also interferes with the body's ability to get rid of bilirubin, a breakdown product of old red blood cells. This leads to jaundice (yellow discoloration of the eyes and body) and dark urine.

Symptoms & Signs

It takes about 1-6 months from the time of infection until symptoms of acute hepatitis appear. Early symptoms may include:

  • Appetite loss
  • Fatigue
  • Low-grade fever
  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Yellow skin and dark urine due to jaundice

People with chronic hepatitis may have no symptoms, or they may have symptoms similar to those of acute hepatitis.

Exams and Tests

The following tests are done to identify and monitor liver damage from hepatitis B:

The following tests are done to help diagnose hepatitis B:

  • Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (Anti-HBc)
  • Antibody to HBsAg (Anti-HBs)
  • Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
  • Hepatitis E surface antigen (HBcAg)

Patients with chronic hepatitis may receive ongoing blood tests.

Treatments

Acute hepatitis needs no treatment other than careful monitoring of liver function, which involves blood tests. In the rare case that you develop liver failure, you should be monitored in a hospital until you recover or you need a liver transplant. A liver transplant is the only cure in some cases of liver failure.

Liver damage makes it harder for the liver to break down proteins, so limit your protein intake. You will take medications to limit protein production by bacteria in your body.

Patients with chronic hepatitis are treated with antiviral medications. Hepatitis B cannot be cured, but these medications may help lessen the infection. Liver transplantation is used to treat end-stage chronic hepatitis B liver disease.

For more information on treatment, see liver disease.

Where to get support

See: Liver disease support group

Prognosis

The acute illness usually goes away after 2 - 3 weeks. The liver usually returns to normal within 4 - 6 months in almost all patients who are infected.

Some people develop chronic hepatitis. People who have chronic hepatitis B stay infectious. They are considered carriers of the disease, even if they do not have any symptoms.

Hepatitis B is deadly in approximately 1% of cases.

Possible Complications

There is a higher rate of hepatocellular carcinoma in those who have had hepatitis B than in the general population.

Other complications may include:

When to contact a medical professional

Call your health care provider if:

  • You develop symptoms of hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis B symptoms do not go away in 2 or 3 weeks, or new symptoms develop
  • You belong to a high-risk group for hepatitis B and have not yet received the HBV vaccine.

Prevention

All children should receive their first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, and complete their vaccination series by age 6 - 18 months. Children younger than age 19 who have not been vaccinated should receive "catch-up" doses.

People who are at high risk, including health care workers and those who live with someone with hepatitis B, should get the hepatitis B vaccine.

Infants born to mothers who either currently have acute hepatitis B or who have had the infection receive a special vaccination that includes hepatitis B immune globulin and a hepatitis B immunization within 12 hours of birth.

Screening of all donated blood has reduced the chance of getting hepatitis B from a blood transfusion. Mandatory reporting of the disease allows state health care workers to track people who have been exposed to the virus. The vaccine is given to those who have not yet developed the disease.

Avoid sexual contact with a person who has acute or chronic hepatitis B. Using condoms consistently and properly may also reduce your risk of developing this condition.

References

Dienstag JL. Hepatitis B virus infection. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:1486-1500.

Jou JH, Muir AJ. In the clinic. Hepatitis C. Ann Intern Med. 2008;148:ITC6-1-ITC6-16.

Content provided by:

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Conversations On Hepatitis B

  • O.K., I saw the grossest thing tonight!


    • Posted On January 9, 2008 09:02:26 PM

      ...ded like a great night for her to catch hepatitis or get e coli. 5 second rule? Not in my family, what hits the floor is thrown away. [color=red:2ed7as3f]NO EXCEPTIONS! -Lonnie ***... Read More

    • Posted On January 9, 2008 09:12:55 PM

      ...ded like a great night for her to catch hepatitis or get e coli. 5 second rule? Not in my family, what hits the floor is thrown away. [color=red:2au49lsp]NO EXCEPTIONS! Hey wait, it's su... Read More

  • Massage resulting in strange dreams....


    • Posted On October 17, 2008 07:25:19 PM

      ...that. When I was really sick (mono and hepatitis at the tsame time) I had very scary vivid dreams. Read More

    • Posted On October 17, 2008 11:10:03 AM

      So I had a professional hour long full body massage last night (it was quite pleasant, and something I should really invest in more often). But then I had the strangest, long, intense dream last n... Read More

  • new here


    • Posted On October 22, 2007 10:45:35 AM

      ...tic, had had open heart surgery and had hepatitis C (from blood transfusions from the heart surgery). The water aerobics were the only thing that helped (esp. for the hep-C)! Many, many older ... Read More

    • Posted On October 22, 2007 10:05:38 AM

      Hi...I just found this site, and I thought I'd try it..I just started reading You on a Diet by Dr. Oz, and HOPING this time, I'll stick to some thing...First, I'll give you all the excuses I us ...... Read More

  • Funniest ever


    • Posted On January 19, 2009 07:06:18 PM

      ...e other day complaining that he had had Hepatitis B so long it had turned into Hepatitis C... Read More

    • Posted On January 18, 2009 05:35:32 AM

      http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=257985 I've been reading this for the past two days, it's the funniest thing ever. Seriously. Thought I'd share it with people. Read More

  • Owwww! Just whining...


    • Posted On January 10, 2009 11:01:53 AM

      I can still feel where I got the hepatitus ( prevention ) needle in grade 8 . Im not kidding. i can pinpoint it to a tee because if I touch it it still feels bruised like it was just done. As well,... Read More

    • Posted On January 10, 2009 12:55:59 PM

      ...hree??? I don't want more pain T_T and Hepatitis A was another thing I was immunized for that I couldn't spell. . Read More

  • what am I doing wrong?


    • Posted On March 10, 2008 07:03:47 PM

      ... liver. Alcohol abuse and chronic viral hepatitis are the most common causes of cirrhosis, but it can also be caused by medicines or by another disease (such as hemochromatosis). Symptoms of ci... Read More

    • Posted On March 10, 2008 06:20:14 PM

      ok, I am having major problems and I need your help. Here's my deal. I exercise hard for 90 minutes every day and I typically burn any where from 800 to 1000 calories. I eat no more than 1700 to... Read More

Show More

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SIXTYNINETATTOO: La Hepatitis B se puede contagiar por un tatuaje o una perforación, lee los articulos en: www.sixtyninetattoo.com

MDLinx: Long-term outcome of patients with lamivudine after early cessation of hepatitis B immunoglobulin for preventio... http://bit.ly/9E9wWn #GI

TheSussexSquare: Heading back to Brighton from Liverpool after successful meeting of hepatologists considering best treatment for hepatitis B

BabetteBo: Rep. Mike Honda: Hepatitis Gone Viral: 100 Times More Infectious .. http://is.gd/cT1sI

gracesonia: AAPCHO Hep B Policy Fellow Corinna Dan is tweeting live fr a historic House hearing on hepatitis. Follow @BAdvocate for the updates!

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