What is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). This virus is one type of many viruses that attack the liver.
There are 2 forms, namely:
- Acute hepatitis B virus infection: a temporary illness. Occurs during the first 6 months after a person is exposed to HBV. Acute infection can lead to chronic infection, although not always.
- Chronic hepatitis B virus infection: a long-term disease. Occurs when the virus persists in a person’s body.
Acute hepatitis B disease occurs more often in adults, while chronic hepatitis B is more common in infants and children.
Getting vaccinated against hepatitis is one preventive measure that can help suppress the spread of the virus to other people.
Symptoms of Hepatitis B
In many cases, sufferers do not experience significant symptoms.
Symptoms more commonly appear in children over 5 years of age and adults, within 2-5 months after infection.
Here are some common symptoms experienced:
- Urine is dark yellow.
- Diarrhea.
- Excessive tiredness.
- Mild fever.
- Pale colored stools.
- Joint pain.
- Loss of appetite.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Stomach ache.
- Jaundice.
- Rash.
- Blood vessels look like spiders on the skin.
Generally, symptoms will not appear until complications develop.
If you are at high risk, you should check yourself at the nearest health facility to undergo an examination to prevent the development of the disease.
Doctors will usually recommend health screening.
Causes of Hepatitis B
This viral infection is caused by HBV. This virus is transmitted from person to person through blood, semen, or other body fluids.
This disease is not spread through sneezing or coughing.
The following are common ways HBV spreads :
- Sexual contact. The risk of infection increases when having unprotected sex with someone who is infected. The virus can be transmitted if blood, saliva, semen, or vaginal fluid enters the body.
- Shared syringe use. HBV is easily spread through syringes that have been contaminated with the blood of an infected person.
- Mother to child. Pregnant women who are infected with HBV can transmit the virus to their babies during childbirth.
Hepatitis B Risk Factors
There are many factors that can increase the risk of this condition, including:
- Having sex with more than one person without using protection.
- Using the same needle when injecting medication.
- Having sex with someone of the same sex.
- Living with someone with chronic hepatitis B.
- Babies born to mothers with hepatitis B.
- Working in areas exposed to human blood, for example health workers.
- Traveling to areas with high rates of HBV infection such as Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe.
Diagnosis of Hepatitis B
Diagnosis is made by checking for signs of liver damage, such as yellowing of the skin or abdominal pain.
The examination is carried out using the following procedures:
- Blood test. This procedure can detect signs of the virus in the body and determine the extent of the infection.
- Liver ultrasound. This procedure is called elastography. Its purpose is to find out how severe the sufferer’s liver damage is.
- Liver biopsy. This procedure involves taking a small sample of the liver to check for liver damage. The procedure involves inserting a thin needle through the skin into the liver to remove a tissue sample.
Hepatitis B Treatment
The treatment steps for each sufferer will be different, depending on the treating doctor.
Therefore, it is advisable to have regular check-ups to get proper medical advice.
Hepatitis that is not treated properly can actually cause various health complications.
The following treatment procedures are carried out based on the severity of the disease experienced:
Treatment After Exposure
The doctor will give an immunoglobulin injection within 12 hours of exposure to the virus.
Because this treatment only provides short-term protection, you should also get the hepatitis B vaccine at the same time.
Treatment of Acute Infections
Acute infections tend not to last long and will go away on their own without treatment.
Your doctor may recommend getting plenty of rest, eating the right foods, and drinking plenty of fluids to help your body fight off the infection on its own.
Chronic Infection Treatment
Most people with chronic infections require treatment for the rest of their lives.
Treatment can help reduce the risk of liver disease and prevent spreading the infection to others. Here are the treatments that are carried out:
- Antiviral drugs. Medication can help fight the virus and slow its ability to damage the liver. One commonly used drug is tenofovir, which works by inhibiting the replication of the hepatitis B virus in the body, helping to prevent complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. In addition to tenofovir, doctors can also prescribe entecavir or lamivudine for long-term treatment.
- Interferon injection. This drug is not recommended for pregnant women, as it can trigger side effects such as nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and depression.
- Liver transplant. This procedure involves removing the damaged liver and replacing it with a healthy one.
Complications of Hepatitis B
If this disease is left without proper treatment, it can cause various complications, including:
- Scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). Inflammation associated with hepatitis B infection can lead to extensive scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), which can interfere with the liver’s ability to function.
- Liver cancer. People with chronic hepatitis B infection have an increased risk of liver cancer.
- Liver failure. Acute liver failure is a condition in which the vital functions of the liver cease. When this condition occurs, a liver transplant is needed to maintain life.
- Other conditions. People with chronic hepatitis B may develop kidney disease or inflammation of the blood vessels.
Hepatitis B Prevention
The best prevention against hepatitis B transmission is with the hepatitis B vaccine, which is given to infants or high-risk individuals.
Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with blood, unprotected sexual intercourse, use of contaminated needles, and from mother to baby during childbirth.
Therefore, maintaining cleanliness, using sterile medical equipment, and getting vaccinated against hepatitis B are very important to prevent infection.
Vaccination is highly recommended to prevent the disease. Hepatitis vaccine is mandatory for infants, as well as people who are at high risk of infection or complications from the disease.
The following are several groups that need to be vaccinated:
- Babies born to mothers with hepatitis B.
- Close family and sexual partners of sufferers.
- People traveling to Africa, East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands
- Families who adopt or foster children from high-risk countries.
- People who share needles.
- People who frequently change sexual partners.
- Men who have sex with other men.
- People who work in healthcare facilities or laboratories.
- People with chronic liver disease.
- People with chronic kidney disease.
FAQ
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What is Hepatitis B caused by?
Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is transmitted through blood, semen, or other bodily fluids.
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Is hepatitis B contagious?
Yes, hepatitis B is transmitted through:
- Unprotected sexual contact.
- Shared use of syringes.
- Transmission from mother to child during childbirth.
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Can people with hepatitis B live normal lives?
For people with hepatitis B with acute infection, it will often heal on its own without complications, allowing them to live a normal life.
Meanwhile, people with hepatitis B with chronic infection generally require long-term treatment.
With proper treatment, sufferers can still live normal lives while monitoring their health to prevent complications.
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Can positive hepatitis B be cured?
For hepatitis B sufferers with acute infection, they will usually recover without special treatment.
While chronic infections are not always cured, treatments such as antiviral drugs and other therapies can control the disease and prevent complications. In some cases, liver transplantation is also needed.
