Hepatitis B is a liver disease belonging to Hepadnaviridae family (hepatotropic DNA virus). It is an infectious disease of the liver caused by hepatitits B virus and characterized by inflammation and hepatocellular necrosis.
- Causes:
Hepatitis B It can be contracted through contact with blood or body fluids (such as semen, saliva, and vaginal fluids) from a person who has the virus.
Exposure can occur in the following ways:
After a stick with a needle or sharp objects.
If there is contact of blood or any other body fluid with the skin, mouth or eyes.
Symptoms may not appear until 6 months after infection occurs. Initial symptoms may include:
Inapetence
Fever
Fatigue
Muscle and joint pain
Yellow skin and cloudy urine
Nausea and vomiting
- Treatment:
Acute hepatitis You do not need any treatment other than monitoring of liver function and other functions that will be checked with blood tests. Those who suffer from it must rest a lot in bed, as well as drink plenty of fluids and eat healthy foods.
Some patients with chronic hepatitis can be treated with a medicine called peginterferon. These drugs can remove or lower hepatitis B from the blood and reduce the risk of liver cancer and cirrhosis. It is not always clear which patients with chronic hepatitis B should be treated and when it should be started.