Hepatitis B: Overview, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Hepatitis B is a severe medical condition wherein your liver gets infected by Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). When Hepatitis B lasts for more than 6 months, the condition is considered to be chronic. The chronic stage of Hepatitis B tends to increase the risk of liver failure, liver cancer, or even cirrhosis (a condition where permanent scars appear on your liver).

Chronic Hepatitis B with severe symptoms usually affects infants & children more than adults. Adults tend to recover quickly from chronic Hepatitis B whereas; infants & children develop long-lasting chronic infections.

In this article, we will share detailed information on Hepatitis B symptoms, causes, and treatment.

Hepatitis B Symptoms:

The Hepatitis B symptoms usually range from very mild to extremely severe symptoms which include:

• Fever
• Dark urine
• Pain in abdomen
• Pain in joints
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue & weakness
• Your skin & whites of the eyes turn yellow (signs of jaundice)

These symptoms can be seen up to 1-4 months after you have been infected, however, they might even appear at the earliest i.e. within two weeks post-infection. Few people, usually young children might not reflect any symptoms.

Hepatitis B Causes:

As mentioned above, Hepatitis B is caused by HBV which gets easily passed on from one person to another via blood, semen, or other body fluids.

Note: It does not spread by coughing or sneezing.

The most common Hepatitis B causes are:

1. Needles: Needles & syringes contaminated with HBV-infected blood aid in the easy spread of Hepatitis B. It is a great risk & concern for health care workers as they frequently get in contact with human blood.
2. Sexual Contact: Having unprotected sex can cause Hepatitis B via blood, saliva, semen, or vaginal secretion that enters your body.
3. From Mother to Child: A pregnant woman who is infected with HBV can pass this virus to their newborn during childbirth. The newborn can be vaccinated to avoid getting infected by the virus.

Hepatitis B Treatment:

The treatment includes giving Hepatitis B vaccine; usually 3-4 injections over 4 to 6 months. This vaccine is highly recommended for:

• Infants
• Children who are not vaccinated with Hepatitis B vaccine during birth
• People who work or reside at the center of the people who are developmentally disabled
• People with sexually transmitted infections, this includes of HIV as well
• People who live together with someone infected with Hepatitis B
• Health care workers who constantly are in contact with blood
• People with many sexual partners
• A person whose sexual partner is infected with Hepatitis B
• A person suffering from chronic liver disease and last-stage kidney disease
• Someone who injects illegal drugs shared needles & syringes in their body
• Person (traveler) who plans to travel to a part of the world with the highest rate of Hepatitis B infection

Precautions: Consult your doctor in following cases; A. If you are pregnant and notice signs of Hepatitis B. B. You are infected with Hepatitis B and want to conceive. Make sure that your newborn gets the Hepatitis vaccine. To take preventive measures:

• Check for the HBV status of your sexual partner
• Have safe sex
• Stop consuming illegal drugs
• Be sure that the needles used are sterilized while body piercing & getting a tattoo done
• Make sure to have Hepatitis B vaccine before you travel to any region with a higher rate of Hepatitis B infection