Hepatitis b: drugs, symptoms, causes, etc. & bull; hello healthy

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Definition

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). This disease can cause acute infections and chronic infections that develop into cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Hepatitis B transmission can occur through contact with body fluids, such as blood transfusions and use of needles. In some cases, this virus can also be transmitted through sexual contact.

Even so, the mode of transmission of this disease most often occurs vertically from mother to baby, namely during the perinatal period or the delivery process.

Symptoms of hepatitis B generally do not appear immediately after infection. However, the symptoms of this disease can last for several weeks.

This infectious hepatitis disease can be cured by undergoing special treatment. In addition, you can also prevent this condition by getting the hepatitis B vaccine.

How common is this condition?

Hepatitis B is an infectious disease that commonly affects many people in various parts of the world. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 257 million people suffer from chronic hepatitis B.

This figure is coupled with the number of deaths of 887,000, which are generally caused by complications of liver disease, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.

In Indonesia alone, acute HBV infection with symptoms is more common in adults than children or toddlers. Meanwhile, Basic Health Research data in 2014 recorded that around 95% of infants who contract HBV are at risk of developing chronic infection.

On the other hand, about 30% of children under the age of five have the potential to suffer from chronic infections. HBV transmission to adults develops chronic hepatitis B with a percentage of 5%.

This means that almost 95% of liver disease transmission occurs vertically, from mother to baby through childbirth.

Type

What are the types of hepatitis B infection?

Hepatitis B virus infection is divided into two types based on the length of time the disease lasts.

Acute HBV infection

Acute HBV infection is a transient illness that occurs during the first 6 months after a person is exposed to the virus. The immune system will most likely clear the virus from the body and fully recover within a few months.

Acute hepatitis infection can progress to chronic if it lasts more than 6 months, but this condition does not always occur.

Chronic HBV infection

If the hepatitis B virus infection lasts more than 6 months, you may have chronic hepatitis infection. This may be because the immune system is unable to fight infection.

Chronic infection can last a lifetime and is at risk of developing serious complications, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The earlier you get hepatitis B, the higher your risk of developing a chronic infection. Chronic infection may go undiagnosed for several years until the patient develops symptoms of liver disease.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is also referred to as a disease ' silent killer '. The reason is, many people are asymptomatic, so this disease often develops without realizing it for years.

However, some people who are infected with HBV will experience a number of symptoms. This condition may occur due to the immune system not being strong against infections caused by viruses.

The symptoms of hepatitis B that you experience can indicate how severe the viral infection is. Therefore, the symptoms of this hepatitis will differ according to the conditions.

Symptoms of acute hepatitis B

The period of symptoms of acute infection can last 1 - 4 months. Symptoms of this condition indicate the initial phase of HBV infection, including:

• fatigue,
• loss of appetite,
• nausea and vomiting,
• pain in the upper abdomen, and
• yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).

Acute HBV infection generally does not cause severe liver damage, so there are no symptoms of bleeding.

Symptoms of chronic hepatitis B

Patients with chronic hepatitis B usually show symptoms associated with impaired liver function due to inflammation.

This is because chronic HBV infection weakens the function of the liver in maintaining the immune system, producing enzymes, and filtering out toxic substances.

Over time, viral infection can lead to the final stage of liver disease, namely cirrhosis of the liver. That is why, the symptoms of chronic HBV infection may appear similar to cirrhosis of the liver, including:

• fatigue,
• muscle ache,
• loss of appetite,
• the color of the stool turns pale,
• dark or tea-like discoloration of the urine,
• itching and rash on the skin of the palms,
• nausea and vomiting,
• low-grade fever,
• fluid in the stomach (ascites),
• upper stomach pain,
• jaundice, as well
• spider-like blood vessels on the skin (spider angioma).

When to see a doctor?

If you experience any symptoms or signs, whether stated or not, consult a doctor. Everyone's body is different, so the symptoms that appear may also be different.

If you know you have been exposed to hepatitis B, contact your doctor as soon as possible for treatment to reduce the risk of the infection spreading.

Causes and risk factors

What causes hepatitis B?

Infection through the HBV virus can be passed from person to person through blood, semen, or other body fluids. This disease is not spread by sneezing or coughing.

HBV is viral DNA which is composed of a core and an outer part made of deoxyribonucleic acids. The core is composed of DNA and HBcAG antigen and the outer part consists of HBsAG antigen.

Both of these antigens are part of the virus that can be a marker in a person who is infected with the virus.

Hepatitis B virus can survive outside the human body for approximately 7 days. During this period, the virus can multiply and enter the human body that does not have antibodies or immunity to this disease.

Once inside the body, the virus does not immediately cause infection. The average incubation period for HBV in the body is 75 days, but can occur as long as 30 to 180 days.

How is hepatitis B transmitted?

Here are some things that can be a way of transmitting the hepatitis virus, including HBV.

Sexual activity

You may catch the HBV virus if you have unprotected sex with an infected person. The virus can attack your body when the person's blood, saliva, semen, or vaginal fluids enter the body.

Share needles

Apart from sexual activity, the spread of the HBV virus can easily occur through needles that are contaminated with infected blood. Sharing intravenous (IV) drug paraphernalia also puts you at a higher risk of developing hepatitis B.

Transmission from mother to child

Pregnant women who are infected with hepatitis B can also transmit the virus to their babies during childbirth. However, newborns can get vaccines to prevent infection and this is usually quite effective.

Always talk to your doctor about the HBV test results if you want or are pregnant.

What factors can increase your risk of developing this condition?

This contagious liver disease can be spread through contact with blood, sperm or other body fluids from sufferers. In addition, below are some of the conditions that make you more at risk of contracting this disease.

• Having sex without a condom and having multiple partners.
• Use of the same needle for drug injection.
• Having sex with men.
• Live with people with chronic hepatitis B.
• Babies born to sufferers' mothers.
• Works on areas exposed to human blood.
• Travel to areas with a high risk of HBV infection, such as Southeast Asia and Africa.

Having no risk factors does not mean you cannot get this disease. These factors are for reference only. Consult your doctor for more information.

Diagnosis and treatment

How to diagnose this condition?

Hepatitis B testing cannot be done just by recognizing the symptoms that appear. The doctor will usually ask you to undergo further tests to make sure there is a virus in the body and how long the infection lasts.

The following are some of the tests performed to detect the HBV virus.

Blood test

One of the tests performed to detect hepatitis B is a blood test. Blood tests aim to diagnose the features of the hepatitis virus to the doctor and tell whether the virus is acute or chronic.

In addition, blood sample examinations are also performed to determine the body's immune reaction to HBV infection or what can be called an antibody test. This blood test can also be known as an HBcAg test.

Liver biopsy

In addition to a blood sample, the doctor may also take a sample of liver tissue to see if there is any damage to the liver. This procedure is called a liver biopsy.

Liver function tests

Liver function tests are also carried out to see whether the liver is working optimally or not. The analysis was carried out through blood samples by looking at the levels of the enzymes (SGOT and SGPT) in them.

If the enzyme levels in the blood are high enough, it is possible that the liver will become inflamed or damaged. Liver function tests also check for other levels, such as albumin and bilirubin.

What are the options for hepatitis B medication and treatment?

As you know, how to treat hepatitis will depend on the type experienced by each person. This also applies to the choice of hepatitis B drugs and treatments.

If you think you have the virus, contact your doctor immediately. If you haven't been vaccinated or don't remember being vaccinated or not, injecting immunoglobulin within 12 hours of exposure can protect you from the virus.

Meanwhile, hepatitis B treatment is based on whether the infection is acute or chronic.

Acute HBV infection

If your doctor diagnoses your hepatitis infection as acute, it means that the disease is only temporary and will go away on its own.

You may not need specific therapy, but simple treatments, including:

• get more rest,
• avoid close contact with other people, as well
• meet the needs of nutrition and body fluids to fight infection.

In addition, people you come into contact with should be given immunoglobulins and vaccines within 2 weeks of exposure.

Chronic HBV infection

If you are diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B infection, you can get therapy to reduce your risk of liver disease and prevent transmission to other people. The therapy is in the form of:

• Antiviral drugs to slow liver damage, such as adefovir or entecavir.
• Interferon alpha-2b (Intron A), a synthetic drug made from substances the body produces to fight infection and is used by injection.
• Liver transplant for people who have experienced heart failure.

Always discuss with your doctor about treatment options and hepatitis B drugs so that the healing process runs smoothly.

Prevention

Apart from undergoing simple treatments, you can also reduce your risk to prevent hepatitis B in the ways below.

Get a vaccine

The hepatitis B vaccine is one of the best ways to prevent this disease. This vaccine has been proven safe, effective, and is available in large quantities. Since 1982, more than one billion doses of vaccine have been given globally.

Experts also claim the vaccine has an effectiveness level of around 98-100% for protecting the body from viruses. Newborn babies need to get this vaccine so that they are not susceptible to viral hepatitis.

Have safe sex

Apart from getting the vaccine, you are also advised to do safe sexual activity, such as:

• using condoms, and
• know the HBV status of any sexual partner.

Unless you are absolutely sure your partner is not infected with hepatitis or other contagious infection, it is best to avoid sexual intercourse without a condom.

Avoid abusing drugs

The use of illegal drugs is certainly dangerous for the health of the body. If this happens to you, seek help immediately to stop it.

Meanwhile, always use a sterile needle when using drugs that are injected into the body. Sharing needles with other people is at risk of contracting the hepatitis B virus.

Be careful with piercings or tattoos

If you want to get a piercing or tattoo, look for a store with a high level of hygiene. Ask them how equipment is cleaned and make sure employees use sterile syringes.

If you have further questions, please contact your doctor to get the right solution for your condition.