Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection

DESCRIPTION

Description

The liver is the largest organ inside your body. It helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. One type, hepatitis B, is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Causes and Risk Factors

1. Hepatitis B spreads by contact with an infected person's blood, semen, or other body fluid.

2. An infected woman can give hepatitis B to her baby at birth.

Signs and Symptoms

Common symptoms include:

1. Flu-like symptoms

2. Yellowing of skin and eyes

3. Dark-colored urine

4. Pale stools

Some people have no symptoms at all. A blood test can tell if you have it.

HBV usually gets better on its own after a few months. If it does not get better, it is called chronic HBV, which lasts a lifetime. Chronic HBV can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver failure, or liver cancer.

Treatment

1. Adequate rest, nutrition and fluid intake is all that may be needed for management of acute hepatitis B.
2. Antiviral medications and Interferon is used in the treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B
3. Liver transplant may be needed in severe cases.

Prevention

There is a vaccine for HBV. It requires three shots. All babies should get the vaccine, but older children and adults can get it too. If you travel to countries where hepatitis B is common, you should get the vaccine.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

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