Hepatitis B is a liver disease. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus. Most hepatitis B infections clear up within 1-2 months without treatment. When the infection lasts more than six months, it can develop into chronic hepatitis B, which can lead to:
This virus is spread through contact with body fluids of an infected person. Fluids include:
The following situations may increase your risk of getting hepatitis B:
These may appear about 25–180 days after you are exposed to the virus. The most common symptoms are:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Hepatitis B is diagnosed with blood tests. These blood tests are also used to monitor its effects on the liver.
For chronic cases, a liver biopsy may be needed. A biopsy is the removal of a sample of liver tissue for testing.
The symptoms can be treated with medication. If you have an uncomplicated case, you can expect to recover completely.
If you have chronic hepatitis B, you may be treated with medication. This will help to reduce the activity of the virus. It can also prevent liver failure.
Medications include:
If you have chronic hepatitis B, you should avoid anything that can further injure the liver, including:
If you have chronic hepatitis B, prevent the spread of the infection by:
Hepatitis B can be prevented with a vaccination . It consists of three injections. They are given over six months. Protection is not complete without all three. Anyone at increased risk for hepatitis B should be vaccinated.
In addition, to prevent the transmission of hepatitis B:
RESOURCES:
American Liver Foundation
http://www.liverfoundation.org/
Hepatitis B Foundation
http://www.hepb.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Institute for Health Information
http://www.cihi.ca/
Canadian Liver Foundation
http://www.liver.ca/
References:
American Liver Foundation website. Available at: http://www.liverfoundation.org .
Braunwald E, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Jameson JL, Longo DL, eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 15th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2001.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ .
Last reviewed January 2009 by David L. Horn, MD, FACP
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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