Hepatitis B

 

Hepatitis is a disease that effects liver function. The liver is a vital organ that processes multiple materials, filter the blood and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, it malfunction and causes a disease characterized by yellowing of skin and eyes, fever, general ill feeling, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, dark urine and pale stools. The intensity of the disease varies based on many factors, and it may deteriorate or become a chronic disease.

 

Abuse of alcohol, toxins or certain medications, as well as certain medical conditions, can cause inflammation of the liver. However, hepatitis is most commonly caused by a virus. The most common types of Hepatitis are Hepatitis type B And type C.

 

 

Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease, caused by infection with the virus hepatitis B. Within 6 months of the infection, the person may develop an acute infection, the severity of which can range from very light - with little or no symptoms -  to a sever condition requiring hospitalization. In some people the body fights the infection and it vanishes. But for others, the infection may remain and become chronic (this condition is defined as “carrier state”). A chronic infection can also cause serious health problems.

 

 

Acute infection is not always accompanied by symptoms. Small children may not show any symptoms at all. With older people, symptoms occur within 3 months of infection. Symptoms can last from several weeks to a few months, and include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, gray stool, dark urine, joints pain and yellowing of skin and eyes.

 

 

5% -10% of infected people will develop chronic disease condition, also known as “carriers”. Many people with chronic hepatitis B do not experience symptoms and may not know that they carry the virus, but despite the lack of symptoms, the virus may be detectable in the blood. Symptoms of chronic hepatitis B can appear up to 30 years after infection, during which liver damage is being developed .When symptoms occur, they are similar to those of acute illness, but they usually indicate advanced liver disease.  

 

Over time, 15% -25% of the people with chronic hepatitis B will develop serious liver problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. Each year, more than 600,000 people die worldwide from situations related to liver disease caused by hepatitis B.

 

 

There is risk of infection in hepatitis B when blood, semen, or other body fluids from a person carrying the virus, or ill with hepatitis B, reach the other person's body. This can happen as a result of sexual contact with an infected person or when sharing needles, syringes or other injection equipment.

 

Hepatitis B can also be transmitted from mother to newborn during childbirth.

 

 

Hepatitis B can be diagnosed only through specific blood tests. People belonging to these groups are recommended to be tested:  

 

In acute infection, doctors usually recommend rest, ensuring adequate nutrition and fluids and close medical attention. Some patients will need hospitalization.

 

In case of chronic infection, the patient needs a regular medical follow up, since even at the absence of symptoms the liver may be damaged. For patients with high viral load there are medications that have been shown to be very effective, and may even reverse cirrhosis to a non- cirrhosis condition, and prevent the appearance of cancer.  

 

 

Definitely! The best way to deal with hepatitis B virus is by vaccination.The vaccine is given in Israel since 1992 and resulted in a significant reduction in morbidity. The vaccine is given during the first six months of life and includes three injections. This vaccine is considered very effective protection against infection for a lifetime.