HEPATITIS B – KNOW MORE

WHAT IS HEPATITIS B INFECTION?

Hepatitis B is infection of the liver caused by the Hepatitis B virus.Hepatitis B is one of five different kinds of Hepatitis viruses (A-E). This infection may cause minimal disease, even after years. It can also cause major scar formation, cirrhosis, and liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma).

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF HEPATITIS B?

As with the other Hepatitis viruses, a person infected with Hepatitis B may not have any symptoms.Others may have symptoms such as:

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Fever
• Pain in the joints
• Jaundice
• Dark urine
• Pain in the liver area

HOW DOES A PERSON GET HEPATITIS B INFECTION?

Hepatitis B is a blood-borne virus, which means that it is transmitted by contact with the blood of a person who already has the virus. People with a higher risk of getting Hepatitis B include:

• Those who have had sex with a person, who has Hepatitis B, especially sex with multiple partners. Hepatitis B is much more contagious compared to Hepatitis C.
• Those who share intravenous needles (as in injecting illegal drugs) with an infected person
• Those who have a job that brings them into contact with blood
• Babies born to a mother with Hepatitis B

HOW IS HEPATITIS B DIAGNOSED?

Blood tests to check for antibodies to the virus will tell for certain if you have, or have been exposed to, Hepatitis B. These show up in the blood after infection.

HOW IS HEPATITIS B TREATED?

Medications have become increasingly effective at treating Hepatitis B.

They include interferons and so-called nucleoside analogues such as lamuvidine (Epivir), adefovir (Hepsera) or entecavir (Baraclude).

They work by a combination of killing the virus and stimulating the immune system to attack infected liver cells.

WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF HEPATITIS B?

Complications of hepatitis B include cirrhosis of the liver, portal hypertension with oesophageal varices and hepatocellular cancer.

 WILL IT EVENTUALLY NEED A LIVER TRANSPLANT?

Liver transplantation is reserved for patients with advanced symptomatic and irreversible liver disease. Patients with complications related to chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis should be referred to medical centres specializing in liver transplantation for evaluation. This should be done before the onset of terminal liver disease. Transplantation can dramatically prolong and improve quality of life for patients with advanced stages of this disease, which would otherwise be untreatable.

HOW IS HEPATITIS B PREVENTED?

You can protect yourself from getting Hepatitis B infection with a vaccine. Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for the following groups of people:

• All new-borns, infants and children
• Health care and emergency personnel
• Haemodialysis patients
• Patients with chronic liver disease
• Morticians and embalmers
• Patients and staff at institutions for the mentally challenged
• People with multiple sexual partners
• Injection drug users
• Sexual partners and household members of people with chronic Hepatitis B

WHY KIMS?

KIMS is one of the leading centres nationally for the care of patients with hepatitis B. Because Hepatitis B often becomes a chronic condition, it requires a long-term approach to treatment and care. Our hepatologists and gastroenterologist understand the nuances of caring for patients with Hepatitis B, including when to carefully watch the patient’s progress and when to take a more aggressive stance.