Hepatitis B

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is one of the most widespread infectious diseases worldwide, affecting about 2 billion people.

Hepatitis B virus infection affects the liver. The disease can be acute or chronic and can be worn inside the body for the entire life, generating serious liver conditions. Hepatitis B can cause scar tissue formation, liver dysfunction, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and even death.

How is the infection transmitted?

Hepatitis B can be transmitted through unprotected sex, being classified as a sexually transmitted disease. It can also be transmitted very frequently from mother to baby during delivery.

Who is affected by Hepatitis B?

Over time, specialists have identified a number of high-risk types of people:
– people with multiple sexual partners who do not use a condom;
– persons diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases,
– infected mothers who, at birth, transmit the virus to the newborn;
– people receiving blood transfusions;
– injecting drug users;
– people traveling to countries with hepatitis B high prevalence;

What are the symptoms?

Hepatitis B infection manifestations usually occur within 90 days of infection, although most of the infected persons may be asymptomatic and up to 30 years after the infection.

The most common symptoms of Hepatitis B are:

– fatigue;
– fever;
– weight loss;
– dark urine;
– lack of hunger;
– nausea;
– abdominal pain;
– yellow skin color;
– joint pain;
– vomiting.

How do you prevent the infection?

By using a condom in all cases where your partner is at risk of being infected.

What is the treatment?

The doctor decides the treatment according to the stage of the disease. If possible, he may administer the patient the anti-hepatic vaccine in a dose that stimulates the immune system to fight the infection. If the disease is discovered in advanced stages, treatment can be very severe. During the treatment, it is strictly forbidden the consumption of alcoholic beverages and the doctor’s recommendations must be followed in detail. Any mistake may worsen the disease.