Symptoms, treatment and prevention of hepatitis B explained by medical experts

Hepatitis B vaccination is a common recommendation, but what exactly does it prevent?

The secretary of HHS, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his advisory group, plan to meet this week to discuss and vote on various vaccine recommendations for hepatitis B, as well as COVVI-19 and measles, mumps and rubella.

Hepatitis B is considered a serious viral infection that causes inflammation in the liver and is the most common liver infection in the world, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

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We have reported that 254 million people worldwide live with the infection, the World Health Organization reported.

The infection can be brief, known as acute hepatitis B, or it can be a chronic long -term form, which can cause complications such as cirrhosis (liver healing) and liver insufficiency.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes inflammation in the liver. (istock)

What causes the infection?

Hepatitis B is triggered by exposure to body fluids infected with the virus, including amniotic fluid, blood, menstrual fluid, saliva and other secretions.

Exposure can occur by unprotected sex, shared needles or syringes or contaminated medical instruments. He can also be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her newborn baby during childbirth, according to Mayo Clinic.

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Anyone can contract hepatitis B, but those who have a sexually transmitted infection, take an immunosuppressant (like chemotherapy), receive dialysis or have another type of liver disease has an increased risk.

Symptoms of hepatitis B may include abdominal pain, fatigue, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and weakness. (istock)

Hepatitis B symptoms

Although viral infection does not cause symptoms for everyone, some of the most common signs include abdominal pain, fatigue, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and weakness, according to Cleveland states.

Other symptoms of liver disease may include dark colored urine, light or clay stools, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (also known as jaundice) and swelling of the liquid in the belly, arms and legs.

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A person is contagious as long as the virus is active in the body.

Acute hepatitis B can last up to six months. There is a lower risk of contagion with inactive chronic hepatitis B, while active chronic hepatitis B is contagious indefinitely.

Acute and chronic hepatitis B can cause a variety of complications, including acute and chronic hepatic insufficiency, cirrhosis, hepatitis D and liver cancer, have practiced experts.

A blood test can diagnose hepatitis B and can also reveal whether it is active or inactive. (istock)

Diagnosis, treatment and prevention

Hepatitis B can be diagnosed by blood tests, imaging tests such as elastography of liver tissue or hepatic biopsy. A blood test can reveal whether the virus is active or inactive, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

There is no remedy for hepatitis B, but certain drugs, such as antiviral drugs, can make the virus inactive. In chronic cases, these drugs must be taken indefinitely.

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If the infection causes cancer, surgery can be a treatment option to eliminate part of the liver. A transplant may also be necessary if the whole liver should be removed.

The best way to prevent hepatitis B infection is by vaccination, according to medical experts.

The best way to prevent hepatitis B is by vaccination, according to medical experts. (istock)

The CDC recommends vaccination against hepatitis B for all infants, children under 19, adults aged 19 to 59 and those over 60 with risk factors. There are several vaccines with hepatitis B, requiring variable doses.

The Cleveland Clinic encourages people with hepatitis B to avoid alcohol, to eat well, to protect themselves from other liver infections and to request support if necessary.

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“If the tests show that you have hepatitis B, you may wonder how the disease will change your life. You can worry about broadcasting the virus to others,” the organization wrote on its website.

“The good news is that there are drugs that prevent chronic B hepatitis from spreading. And there are measures that you can take to protect your overall health and protect others.”