Hepatitis B symptoms and diagnosis , how can you recognize it ? , Hepatitis treatment

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B

What are hepatitis B symptoms ?

jaundice , hepatitis B treatment , hepatitis treatment 

Hidden (incubation) period for hepatitis B is from 2 to 6 months. The first signs of hepatitis B occur, on average, at 12 weeks after infection. Hepatitis B symptoms appear in 70% of cases, they are found more often in adults than in children. Blood test for HBs-antigen becomes positive after 1-9 weeks after hepatitis B  infection (median 4 weeks). This tiredness and fatigue, loss of appetite, jaundice, nausea, discomfort in the right upper quadrant, change in urine color (dark) and feces (lighter), pain in the joints. For the beginning of hepatitis B characteristic when sick on increased temperature and intoxication (sickness, unwell) appears dark urine and develops jaundice. Hepatitis B In addition biochemical signs of liver damage cells exhibit appropriate markers in the blood. If worried about feeling unwell, fever, joint pain appeared or indigestion while later significantly darker color of urine (like a strong brewed black tea and thus strongly foaming), we can assume viral hepatitis. Consult your doctor.

Types of hepatitis B :

Chronic hepatitis B

Hepatitis B infection will become chronic depends upon the age at which a person has been infected. This is most likely to develop chronic infections hepatitis B infected infants. Chronic infection occurs in approximately 90% of infants infected during the first year of life, and 30% - 50% of children infected between the ages of one and four years. About 25% of adults who become chronically infected during childhood die from liver cancer or cirrhosis associated with hepatitis B. 
For chronic hepatitis B is characterized by enlargement of the liver, pain or a feeling of heaviness in the right upper quadrant. 
Chronic hepatitis B leads to the gradual death of liver cells and the proliferation of on-site dead cells of connective tissue cirrhosis. Thus the liver gradually ceases to perform its functions detoxification, chologenetic etc. About 90% of healthy adults who are infected with hepatitis B will recover and be completely rid of the virus within six months .

Acute hepatitis B

Acute hepatitis B can manifest itself in different forms (subclinical or anicteric, icteric, cholestatic form, prolonged form). Subclinical form is characterized by mild, absence of jaundice, moderate changes in biochemical parameters. Icteric form manifests classic jaundice, intoxication, marked changes in blood biochemical parameters. Cholestatic hepatitis is a form in which the inflammatory changes expressed moderately, and signs of biliary excretion functions dominate the clinical picture .

Hepatitis B complications

When actively progressive course of chronic hepatitis B, when the activity of liver transaminases is constantly growing, the risk of hepatitis transition to cirrhosis can exceed 20%. Thus the development of primary liver cancer is possible in 10% of patients with cirrhosis. If a person with chronic hepatitis B and still abuses alcohol, the frequency of adverse outcomes rapid formation of hepatitis B is much higher.  

Deaths from acute hepatitis B is possible with the development of fulminant (lightning) form of the disease, in which die very quickly the liver cells, which is manifested in the form of severe acute liver failure. Fulminant forms are rare.  

When passing hepatitis B to cirrhosis, possible death of the patient from the manifestations of this disease.

Hepatitis B diagnosis

Hepatitis B diagnosis , Hepatitis treatment

Consult your doctor to help diagnose the disease by one or several blood tests. It tests for the presence of antibodies or antigens that will help determine whether you are sick of acute or chronic form of hepatitis B, have immunity to hepatitis B, you need a vaccination or a history of hepatitis B in the past.For the diagnosis of hepatitis B doctor usually collects detailed medical history and conducts a thorough examination of the patient. If you suspect the presence of disease patient is prescribed blood chemistry (hepatitis in peripheral blood determined increase in the number of liver enzymes), a blood test for hepatitis B markers (HBsAg, anti-HBc IgM, anti-HBc total, HBeAg, anti -Hbe, HBV-DNA), abdominal ultrasound and other tests. Treatment of hepatitis B approach requires complex and depends on the stage and severity of the disease. Treatment of any form of hepatitis B include a special diet with restriction of fatty, salty, spicy, fried and canned food. Should exclude alcohol. In case of acute hepatitis B is assigned only supports detoxification and therapy aimed at the elimination of toxins and restore the liver tissue. Antiviral treatment is not carried out. For the treatment of chronic hepatitis B using antiviral drugs group alpha-interferons and nucleoside analogues. These drugs significantly reduce the rate of viral replication, prevent their assembly in the liver cells. Treatment lasts from 6 months to several years. Furthermore, hepatitis B may be used drugs that protect liver cells and means acting on the immune system. However, to achieve a complete cure (cleansing the body of the virus) in chronic hepatitis B with the help of modern techniques can be no more than 10-15% of cases. The doctor's task - to do everything possible so that the patient was among them. If the disease is not running, there is no cirrhosis, antiviral treatment that helps to restore the functions of the liver cells. Should beware of false and dubious treatments that promise a quick and full recovery. Unfortunately easy, fast and cheap method for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B does not exist yet. Drugs significantly affecting fibrosis (cirrhosis), liver (other than interferon) is not created yet.

Tests used for hepatitis B diagnosis :

Having HBsAg, anti-HBc IgM, total anti-HBc, HBeAg, anti-Hbe (markers of hepatitis B), HBV-DNA in the serum of hepatitis B has confirmed the presence of 

Different combinations of the results of these analyzes indicate the presence of hepatitis B infection in the present or the past, acute or chronic phase of hepatitis B virus activity. The results of tests can determine the indications for treatment and assess its effectiveness. 

Doctor finds epidemiological history (whether conducted within the last 6 months any medical procedures - injections, surgery, etc., Whether the patient drugs, find out the risks of sexual transmission). 

Then the doctor examines. The general condition, the severity of intoxication, the presence of jaundice or other clinical signs of hepatitis B. 

The patient is then assigned laboratory blood tests (complete blood count, blood chemistry deployed (liver function tests), markers of hepatitis B, HBV-DNA and ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.