Patient Info

HEPATITIS B

By 22 Jun, 2014 DISEASES

There are 300 million carriers of the hepatitis B virus in the world, with over 500,000 dying annually from liver disease.
The prevalence of HBV carriers varies from 0.1 to 2 % in low prevalence areas such as the US to 10 to 20 % in high prevalence areas such as southeast Asia  and  China.


TRANSMISSION 

In the US  the virus is most commonly transmitted by needle sharing during injection drug use or by unprotected sexual intercourse.
In regions of the world where hepatitis B is prevalent, perinatal transmission (transmission from a mother to her baby) is the most common type of transmission.
Hepatitis B transmission can occur through close personal contact and by sharing household items that carry the virus such as toothbrushes and razors.
Organ transplantation and blood transfusion are uncommon modes of transmission.

SYMPTOMS

Many infected people have no specific symptoms for many years.
Fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, jaundice are common in acute infection while  fluid accumulation in the abdomen and legs, bleeding and  mental confusion are seen in chronic stage.
All persons who have chronic infection with hepatitis B are at increased risk of developing complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.

DIAGNOSIS 

Generally  based upon medical history, physical examination, and the results of diagnostic tests.
Special hepatitis markers found in the blood can confirm hepatitis B infection.
Liver biopsy is used for monitoring the progression of liver damage in people with chronic hepatitis and for detecting cirrhosis or liver cancer.


TREATMENT 

  1. Avoid using alcohol and hepatotoxic drugs
  2. Vaccinate against hepatitis A unless already immune
  3. Influenza vaccination is recommended once per year
  4. Pneumococcal vaccine is recommended every five years
  5. Diphtheria and tetanus booster immunizations every ten years
  6. Antivirals  such as lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir, telbivudine, interferon-alpha, and pegylated interferon-alpha

For more information please see
      www.gastro.org
      www.acg.gi.org
      www.aasld.org
      www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/index.htm