Hepatitis B - Symptom, Treatment And Causes

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver which may often progress to dangerous complications. There are many types of hepatitis and each has its own particular set of causes, symptoms, mode of contraction and treatment procedures. Here are the main types of hepatitis as well as some of the factors which may cause hepatitis: Types Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A virus infection causes this condition. The Hepatitis A virus comes from food or water contaminated with the feces of someone contaminated with hepatitis A. This is not a chronic form of hepatitis. Hepatitis B: This is a chronic form of hepatitis. It spreads through body fluid such as blood, saliva and semen. The possible causes of hepatitis B include injection drug use, having sex with an infected partner and sharing razors or other intimate articles with someone who is infected. Hepatitis C: This is also a chronic form of hepatitis.The most common causes of hepatitis C are injection drug use or having sex. Hepatitis D: This is a not a chronic form of hepatitis and is also very uncommon. It is usually contracted along with hepatitis B. It is usually caused due to puncture wounds or contact with infected blood. Hepatitis E: This is the most uncommon form of hepatitis. It is due to poor sanitation and ingesting fecal matter. It is usually found in developing countries. Causes NASH: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is liver inflammation and damage caused by a buildup of fat in the liver. It is part of a group of conditions called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Virus: This is the usual way of contracting hepatitis. The virus attacks the liver and causes inflammation leading to the breakdown of a number of body systems. Alcohol and other toxins: Alcohol and certain prescribed medications cause the liver to swell and that is why this form of hepatitis is known as alcoholic hepatitis. Autoimmune disease: This is the rarest cause of hepatitis. The immune system malfunctions and begins destroying its own tissues. It attacks the liver because it perceives the liver to be a foreign object. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Hepatitis B is a condition that causes inflammation of the liver because of the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). In India, about one million people are at the risk of being infected with HBV every year. It is unfortunate that this number is huge given the fact that Hepatitis B is a preventable disease. You just need to be vaccinated to stay safe. Untreated Hepatitis B increases the risk of liver failure and liver cirrhosis. Your treatment would depend on whether your Hepatitis B infection is acute or chronic. Seeing the doctor If you have not gotten your Hepatitis B vaccine yet, visit your doctor and get your shot of the vaccine as early as you can. When in doubt, the vaccine helps keep you safer. Common symptoms of the disease include abdominal pain, lack of appetite, darker urine, yellowing of the skin, fever, joint pain and so on. In such cases, take an appointment with a gastroenterologist or a hepatologist right away. Treatment options Not all infected people may need treatment. For acute infection which is not long lasting, your doctor might advise you to drink plenty of fluids and bed rest for recovery. In case of chronic Hepatitis B, the treatment is long-term, depending on how strong the virus is inside the body. Treatment at the right time also prevents you from passing on the infection to people around. The common treatments practised are: Letting the virus take its course - bed rest, intake of healthy food and fluids Anti-viral medication - prevents multiplication of virus Interferon alfa-2b injections the manmade version of the substance your body creates naturally to ward off infections. This is a quicker way to get healthy and is chosen for people who do not prefer long-term treatments Liver transplant For extreme conditions with severe liver damage Post-treatment care No treatment is complete if you are not taking an effort to bounce back to normalcy. Once you have been diagnosed with Hepatitis B, do your bit to make things better. Learn the right information about the disease and this way, you can reduce your level of stress and panic Be in constant touch with your doctors and follow up as and when required Casual contact with friends and relatives will not spread the infection. Do not cut yourself off from the society Pick healthier fruits and vegetables, stay away from alcohol, drugs, and smoking and exercise regularly Know all about vaccinations and get your shots on time. Practice safe sex and do not share intimate items including razors, needles, and toothbrushes. Getting help at the right time will help you recover sooner.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection, resulting in the inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis B is considered to be acute when it lasts up to six months and is tagged as chronic when the timeline exceeds six months. Some of the common symptoms of this disease are dark urine, queasiness, stomach ache, weakness and joint ache. Ayurveda is known to be an effective agent in treating Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is diagnosed by presence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and IgM antibody to Hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc IgM) which develop in the serum in the early stages of infection at the time symptoms appear. Antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) develops after active infection and serves as an indicator of immunity. Anti-HBs + - individual has been vaccinated, has received immune globulin, is immune, or is an infant who has received antibodies from his/her mother. Anti-HBc + - indicates past or present infection and lasts indefinitely. May be detected in an infant who has received antibodies from its mother. IgM anti-HBc + - indicates recent infection with HBV, usually within 4-6 months. HBeAg + - indicates active viral replication and high infectivity. HBsAg + HBV - acute or chronic HBV; persistence for 6 months after acute infection indicates progression to chronic HBV. Treatment for Hepatitis B While there is no approved treatment for acute hepatitis B, few herbs which works as anti viral to HBV DNA and few as antioxident and heaptocytes protector from antigen now give the name of herbs you have given Infected individuals should practice safe sex. Avoiding contact with infected blood or other body fluids directly or on objects such as needles, razors, toothbrushes, etc., may reduce the risk of transmission. Sores and rashes should be covered with bandages and blood on any surface should be cleaned up with household bleach. Listed below are some of the natural herbs that help in fighting Hepatitis B: Katuki: The scientific name of the herb is picrorhiza kurroa. Studies have shown that katuki increases gall bladder shrinkage. It helps in digestion by curing liver ailments. It can be consumed every alternate day to fetch fast recovery. Kalmegh: This Indian herb is better known as andrographis paniculata in the scientific community. It helps in raising the level of serum and the globulin component of protein. Poerhavin diffusa: This is part of the actual plant and is better by the name of Punarnava. It addresses blandness and dyspepsia. Tamarix gallica: Owing to its sugary taste, this herb is easily accepted by children. They have a cleansing effect on the intestine and assist in smooth blood flow of a patient suffering from hepatitis B. Terminalia chebula: This is also known as Haritaki in the Indian subcontinent and helps in decreasing the level of liver spleen. This herb should be consumed with honey on alternate days. Eclipta Alba: This herb is more commonly known as bhringraj. It helps in reviving the liver cells and clears toxins from the body. This herb has a certain rejuvenating effect on patients suffering from hepatitis B. Chicory: This is considered to be a miraculous drug, owing to its ability of revitalising the liver and kidney. It cleanses the blood and speeds up the recovery of hepatitis B. Solanum indicum: This herb has the ability to counter alkaline phosphate that damages the liver. They also have the capability to renovate the liver cells in a very quick time. Capparis spinosa: This herb has the ability to address viral hepatitis. Apart from addressing liver problems, they are also known to be extremely effective in countering anxiety and itching. It suits elderly persons. They can be consumed 2 3 times a week in the form of an extract. Echinacea purpurea: This herb is more commonly known as the echinacia. They have the unique ability of eradicating liver ailments in a short span of time. Apart from being a favourable liver agent, echinacia can bring down swelling of the liver and also safeguard a person from getting the flu. This can be consumed as extract or mixed with fruit juice.

Hepatitis B and C are both viral infections of the liver caused by Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) virus respectively. Though the viral infections mostly affect children, adults are equally susceptible, if not more. The condition, if left untreated can have serious consequences on the liver (liver damage, scarring, liver cirrhosis and even cancer). The symptoms for hepatitis B and C are almost similar and include: Abdominal or belly pain. Jaundice is one of the common and most important symptoms or medical condition associated with hepatitis B and C. The infection often interferes with the ability of the liver to filter out the bile pigment, bilirubin (the breakdown product of hemoglobin). Extreme tiredness and exhaustion. Nausea, loss of appetite. There may be a fever and vomiting in case of hepatitis B. In both hepatitis B and C, the infection causing virus can spread through Unprotected sex. From the affected person (through their blood, body fluids or open sores). Use of infected needles and syringes. In the case of hepatitis C, the virus can also spread from the pregnant women to her child. Though conventional medications and treatments are available, many people go for the Ayurvedic treatments instead. Ayurveda adopts a holistic approach in treating the ailment or disease. The treatment is 100% natural and thus, have negligible or no side effects at all. The Ayurvedic treatment may be time-consuming, but it treats the condition from the base (it works towards identifying and eliminating the very underlying factor responsible for the ailment). The approach is similar in the case of hepatitis B and C. In addition to treating hepatitis, the medications also bring about a remarkable improvement in the associated symptoms (like jaundice, fatigue and nausea). Some of the Ayurvedic medicines used to treat hepatitis B include Bhumi Amla (Phyllanthus Niruri): Bhumi Amla can be used to treat Hepatitis B and the associated symptoms successfully. The medicine lowers the bilirubin level in the blood, thus providing relief from jaundice (one of the characteristic symptoms of Hepatitis B and C). It is also an effective medicine to deal with liver failure or liver problems. Echinacea (Andrographis): The medicine has anti microbial properties and, thus, checks and prevents the growth of the HBV (Hepatitis B Virus). It also enhances the overall functioning of a person's immune system (immune booster). Arjuna (Terminalia Arjuna): People with Hepatitis B can benefit immensely from this medicine. Like Echinacea, Arjuna is also known to be an immune booster. Kaasni: The medicine is used to treat hepatitis B and liver problems. Kaasni is also an excellent blood purifier. The ayurvedic medicine for Hepatitis C include Kalmegh (Andrographis Paniculata): The medicine comes as a relief for people with hepatitis C and liver problems. The anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties of Kalmegh further enhances its effectiveness. Guduchi (AMBROSIA), Haritaki (TERMINALIA CHELUBA), CURCUMA LONGA are few other Ayurvedic medicines that are equally effective in treating Hepatitis C. There are wonderful medicines in Ayurveda for improving immunity and liver function. All the Dipana pachana drugs stimulate liver. Medicines like Arogya vardhini and Puta pakwa vishama jwaranthak loha tabs significantly improve liver function. Single drugs like bhringaraj katuki punarnava are also beneficial.

Certain conditions turn fatal due to sheer negligence. Being aware of the symptoms and reaching out for medical help is paramount to avoid complications. One such disease is Hepatitis B that is caused by the Hepatitis B virus. This virus directly affects the liver which might result in both chronic and acute infections. Severe cases of Hepatitis B might lead to the death of the infected person. You must understand that this is a highly contagious disease that is transmitted from an infected person to another person through blood or other body fluids and hence care needs to be exercised. Read on further to recognize the symptoms if infected and avail medical help. Causes and Symptoms It becomes extremely important to identify the causes which make it easier to be prevented. The disease is caused by the Hepatitis B virus, and it spreads through contact with blood and other body fluids of an infected individual. The disease can be transmitted by having sex with an infected person without any protection or by sharing the needles. Getting a tattoo on the body with tools that are not sterilized properly can also cause hepatitis B. Also, sharing the personal items like razor or toothbrush of an infected individual can cause the disease. Furthermore, the virus can be passed from a mother to her baby during the time of delivery. The symptoms of the disease are sometimes extremely difficult to identify since it may seem to be the symptoms of common flu. Feeling extremely tired, having a mild fever, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and pain in the stomach are some of the common symptoms of Hepatitis B. Also, with the infection, the stools are tan colored, and the urine color gets darker. The eyes and the skin appear to be yellowish in color. Diagnosis and Treatment The simplest way of diagnosis of the presence of the virus is done by a blood test. The symptoms give a warning about the presence of the virus, and the blood test confirms whether the virus is present in the body or was previously there. In some of the cases, a small sample of the liver is taken for the confirmation of the presence of the hepatitis B virus using the procedure known as a liver biopsy. In most of the cases, the virus goes away on its own. It is recommended to take adequate rest, eat healthy foods, drink a lot of water and avoid consumption of alcohol for proper recovery. Some medications are also used in the treatment of hepatitis B, but one needs to extremely careful about the medicines because some medicines can make the condition worse. The best way of prevention of the disease is the appropriate vaccination which is widely used in this case. Also, when you experience the common symptoms of the disease, do not delay in seeking professional help.

Hi Mr. lybrate-user, Firstly, please understand that not all patients with hepatitis B need medication. Medications for hepatits B are usually safe but if required they are usually needed for life time and long term use also has side effects to the kidney. Hence we need to determine if you need treatment or not. There are multiple tests done for hepatitis B. Usually the first one is HBsAg to see if you have hepatitis B infection or not. If that is positive, then only further tests are required to see if you need treatment. If your HBsAg is positive, get a USG abdomen to see the liver condition and HBeAg. If your liver shows changes on ultrasound sor HBeAg is positive, then we can discuss whether you need treatment or not. Share your reports for me to be certain. I hope this information is helpful.

Hi, No one can expect hepatitis. If you develop any signs or symptoms of hepatitis, you need to see some Gastroenterologist.

Hepatitis b is already detected. He has advised sonography to see I'll effects of hbv on liver. That looks enough. Also one may do viral load and give antiviral drugs if needed.

Dear sir, we need to know the stage of hepatitis b. Not all patients with hep b need treatment, some only need close followup. We need to see him and do some tests to know the stage and accordingly treat if needed. Hep b does not spread by touching and sweat, it spread by blood contact, iv drug abuse (sharing needles), from mother to baby and during intercourse if the partner is not protected. Meet me for further information.

Dear user, I can understand. You must understand the difference between ALCOHOL ADDICTION and abuse. You can definitely quit alcohol in one go. Just stop it and swear not to drink again. Engage yourself in games and other engaging activities during evenings or when you feel the urge. Just a week, your habit should change. There are many other methods, which you can see through internet. The best method is what I suggested. Please try it without fail. Take care.