Hepatitis b

Abdomen | Gastroenterology | Hepatitis b (Disease)


Description

Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by infection with Hepatitis B. This infection can cause scar tissue in the liver, liver dysfunction, cirrhosis, liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and even death.

Symptoms of acute hepatitis B (primoinfectia) include: jaundice (yellow skin or scleroticelor - the white of the eyes and / or brown or orange color in urine, discoloration seat (stool), unexplained fatigue that persists for weeks or months, data of flu like symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite (lack of appetite), nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain.

These symptoms appear after an incubation period of 1-6 months after exposure to virus. About 30% of patients are completely asymptomatic.

Causes and Risk factors

Hepatitis B is found in infected blood or infected fluids of the body, such as semen or vaginal secretions, such transmission can be made by percutaneous (through blood transfusions with infected blood, through use of contaminated needles and syringes, bloody maneuvers to dental, manicure, pedicure, body piercing, etc. ), by sex (unprotected sex with someone carrying the HBsAg) and perinatal (from infected mother to newborn).

Diagnosis and Treatment

A history and physical exam will be performed. Additional tests include: liver function blood tests, blood tests to identify the type of virus causing the infection (hepatitis profile) and a liver biopsy.

Most people tend to be free of symptoms and recover completely within a couple of months, never going on to develop chronic (long-term) hepatitis. There is usually no specific treatment for acute (short-term) hepatitis B. Unless your symptoms are particularly severe, you should be able to manage them at home.

Painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol and may be prescribed, codeine if pain is more severe. Nausea (feeling sick) can often be controlled with a medication called metoclopramide. ...