Hepatitis B is a very serious liver infection that can be prevented by a vaccine if diagnosed properly. This infection in the liver is caused by the Hepatitis B virus, commonly known as the HBV. This is one of the major STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) and can also happen if you share an unprotected needle with someone.
This virus is mainly transmitted through body fluids like blood or semen from the infected person to the non-infected one. If mothers are infected with Hepatitis B, it can get transmitted to the child she is carrying. The seriousness of hepatitis B differs from person to person. It can be as trivial as a short-term illness for some people, while for others, it can turn into a long-term infection, often leading to life-threatening situations.
This deadly infection of the liver can be avoided by getting vaccinated at the proper time. The extent of the seriousness of the infection is directly related to the age of the patient. If you get it as an infant, then the chances are more than 90% that it will develop into a chronic infection. However, if you are an adult infected with hepatitis B, then chronic infection chances are low as 2 to 6%.
Symptoms of Hepatitis B
Identifying the symptoms of Hepatitis B is a tricky situation. The signs and symptoms vary from person to person, and for some people, the signs may not even show up before the infection has become acute. Many infants are asymptomatic, and even some newly infected adults can be immunosuppressed and therefore show no symptoms at all.
However, in 30 to 40% of the cases, the adults have been found to show signs and symptoms of Hepatitis B infection. Identifying the symptoms of Hepatitis B at an early stage can be crucial for getting the cure for the infection without any more harm to the immune system. This is very important for children as it can very easily develop into a chronic disease.
Signs to identify and diagnose Hepatitis B
Given below is a list of different signs and symptoms that are related to Hepatitis B.
If the person gets tired quickly.
The person might start feeling nausea very often.
Getting a fever is one of the most common symptoms and perhaps the first major one.
If the person observes that their urine has become darker, it can be a symptom of Hepatitis B.
Since hepatitis B is a liver infection, the concerned person might have jaundice.
Getting joint pains is also a common sign.
One of the most common symptoms is the loss of appetite. It is generally followed by excessive vomiting and abdominal pain.
If a person is infected with Hepatitis B, then they might have a clay-colored stool.
If you or a person notices any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is advised to consult a doctor immediately to be treated easily at an early stage. If a child has any of the symptoms, they should be diagnosed immediately as they are more prone to developing a chronic infection from Hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B medicines
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The antiviral medications are taken orally and according to the prescription by the doctor. They help keep the infection in check and reduce the damage inflicted on the liver of the patient. The interferon injections are more catered towards young people inclined to prevent long term treatment of the infection. However, this medication should not be used during pregnancy.
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