Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). For some people, hepatitis B infection becomes chronic, meaning it lasts for more than six months. Having chronic hepatitis B increases your risk of developing liver failure, liver cancer, or cirrhosis (a condition that permanently scars the liver). Infants and children are more likely to develop chronic (long-term) hepatitis B infection. Most adults with hepatitis B make a full recovery, even if their symptoms are severe. We will tell you here with the symptoms of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis B Treatment, what to eat in Hepatitis B.
What is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B (also known as Hep B or HBV) is part of a group of hepatitis viruses that attack the liver. It can be transmitted through contaminated needles, and from a pregnant woman to her baby during birth. Hepatitis B vaccines are routinely given to infants. The vaccine may also be offered to adults at high risk of getting hepatitis B. Without proper treatment and care, it can become more serious and cause liver damage or death.
How is Hepatitis B Caused?
Hepatitis B is caused by a virus, and it can spread from person to person in certain ways. You can spread the hepatitis B virus even if you don’t feel sick. Here are some reasons for this.
Sharing Needles
The virus is easily transmitted through needles and syringes contaminated with infected blood. Health care workers and anyone who comes into contact with human blood can become infected with hepatitis B.
Mother to Child
Pregnant women with hepatitis B can pass it on to their babies during childbirth. But there is a vaccine to protect newborns from getting infected.
For information, let us tell you that Hepatitis B is not spread by kissing, sharing food or water, utensils, coughing or sneezing or touching.
Symptoms of Hepatitis B
Many people with hepatitis B have no symptoms. If you do get symptoms you may not notice them until two or three months after infection, and they can last up to three months. There are two types of infections – acute and chronic.
Acute (or short-term) symptoms include:
- Flu-like symptoms including fatigue, fever, and aches and pains
- Feeling and/or being sick
- Weight loss/loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Jaundice, which means your skin and the whites of your eyes turn yellow
- Dark urine (urinate)
- Yellow stool.
People who cannot fight off an acute infection after six months, such as babies, young children, and people with weakened immune systems due to HIV, can develop chronic hepatitis B. This is when people are at a higher risk of liver damage, liver disease, and liver cancer.
Hepatitis B Prevention – Hepatitis B Treatment
1- If you think you have been exposed to the virus, see a doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you get treatment, the better. They will give you a vaccine and a shot of hepatitis B immune globulin. This protein boosts your immune system and helps fight infection.
2- During this you have to give up things like drink and acetaminophen which can damage your liver. Check with your doctor before taking any other medicines, herbal remedies, or dietary supplements. Some of them can even damage this organ. Also take healthy diet.
3- Cover all open cuts or wounds.
4- Do not share razors, toothbrushes, nail cutters or earrings with anyone.
5- Do not lie to the child by first eating the food given to him.
6- If the infection goes away, the doctor will tell you that you are a dormant carrier. This means that you no longer have the virus in your body, but the antibody test will show if you have had hepatitis B before.
7- If the infection is active for more than 6 months, your doctor will tell you that you have chronic active hepatitis B. They may prescribe certain medications to treat it such as Adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera), Entecavir (Baraclude), Interferon alfa (Intron A, Roferon A, Slayton) and Lamivudine (3tc, Epivir A/F, Epivir HBV, Heptovir).
8- Without treatment, chronic hepatitis B can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), which can cause the liver to stop working properly.
9- A small number of people with cirrhosis may develop liver cancer, which can even lead to their death. There is no cure for cirrhosis other than liver transplant. However, treatments can help relieve some symptoms.
Hepatitis B Vaccine Price
If you are wondering what is the cost of Hepatitis B Vaccine then let us tell you that currently, the cost of Hepatitis B Vaccine is between ₹45 (from Serum Institute) and ₹250 per Pediatric Dose 0.5ml in 10 micrograms. The hepatitis B vaccine dose for adults, 20 micrograms, is almost double.
What to Eat in Hepatitis B
Now the question arises that what should be eaten in Hepatitis B, then let us tell you that there is no special diet for Hepatitis. A person suffering from hepatitis only needs to follow a healthy, balanced diet. That diet should include:
– Plenty of fruits and vegetables
– Whole grains such as oats, brown rice, barley and quinoa
– Lean proteins such as fish, skinless chicken, egg whites and beans
– low-fat or non-fat dairy products
– Healthy fats like nuts, avocados and olive oil
On the other hand, if you eat high-calorie greasy, fatty or sugary food, you will gain weight and start building up fat in your liver.
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Some Questions Related to Hepatitis B – FAQ’s
Q1. How is Hepatitis B disease caused?
Ans: Hepatitis B is caused by virus, and it can spread from person to person in certain ways.
Q2. Hepatitis B is cured in how many days?
Ans: By the way, hepatitis B infection, which is considered to be ‘acute’, is cured in most people with proper treatment for 6 months from the beginning. If the hepatitis B virus test comes back positive even after 6 months, it turns into chronic (long-term).
Q3. What happens in Hepatitis B positive?
Ans: Being Hepatitis B positive means that you have been infected with this virus.
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