What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a liver disease that starts with mild symptoms. It lasts a lifetime and can cause diseases such as cirrhosis / liver cancer. This disease is caused by the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).
There are acute and chronic stages of hepatitis B disease. Acute HBV infection occurs after hepatitis B virus (HBV) enters the body. If this infection lasts longer than 6 months, the infection becomes chronic. Chronic infection usually continues for life. The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to be vaccinated.
What is the probability of acute hepatitis B infection becoming chronic?
The rate of chronicity of acute HBV infection is related to the age of the infected person. The rate of chronicity decreases with increasing age. The rate of chronicity in infants is approximately 90%, and this rate decreases as the child grows. The rate of chronicity in children aged 1-5 years infected with HBV is approximately 25-50%. The risk of becoming chronic is 6-10% after the age of 5 and is around 5% in adults.
How is acute hepatitis B virus transmitted?
Acute hepatitis B virus is transmitted by the entry of blood, semen, vaginal fluid or other body fluids of a person into the body of a person.
How is hepatitis B transmitted?
- During Birth (infected from mother to baby during delivery)
- Unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner (via semen or vaginal fluid)
- Common use of materials such as injectors used in drug injection
- Common use of razors, toothbrushes, etc.
- Direct contact with an infected person’s blood or an open wound
- Contact with blood through injector or other sharp instrument injuries
Which ways is the hepatitis B virus not transmitted?
- Hepatitis B is not transmitted by eating from the same container
- Hepatitis B is not transmitted by consuming common food or water
- Hepatitis B is not transmitted by breastfeeding
- Hepatitis B is not transmitted by hugs
- Hepatitis B is not transmitted by kissing
- Hepatitis B is not transmitted by shaking hands
- Hepatitis B is not transmitted by coughing
- Hepatitis B is not transmitted by using the same toilet
- Hepatitis B is not transmitted by swimming in the pool
- Hepatitis B is not transmitted by playing with toys
- Hepatitis B is not transmitted by traveling in the same vehicle
What are the symptoms of acute hepatitis B?
Acute (newly occurring) hepatitis B infection may not cause any symptoms. Children are more likely to be asymptomatic. It gives symptoms in 70% of adults.
Common symptoms of hepatitis B:
- Wastage
- weakness
- anorexia
- nausea-vomiting
- stomach ache
- darkening of urine color
- Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)
- joint pain
How long after infection with hepatitis B symptoms start?
These symptoms appear on average 90 days after the HBV virus enters the body, but this period can vary from 6 weeks to 6 months.
What to do if you are suspected of being infected with the hepatitis B virus?
If you have the above symptoms, you should have a hepatitis B test. If you have hepatitis B infection, you should immediately consult a doctor for treatment and start treatment. Vaccination and HBIG are applied in the treatment. Early diagnosis and initiation of treatment are important for successful treatment.
How long do symptoms last in acute hepatitis B?
Symptoms usually last for a few weeks, but can take up to 6 months.
What are the symptoms of chronic hepatitis B?
Chronic Hepatitis B may not show any symptoms for years (it may take up to 20-30 years). However, in the meantime, hepatitis B disease continues to affect the liver negatively. 15-25% of chronic hepatitis B patients develop serious liver diseases such as cirrhosis or liver cancer after a certain period of time. Even some people who develop liver disease may not have any symptoms.
Is chronic hepatitis B a serious disease?
Chronic hepatitis B is a serious disease. In the long run, it can lead to serious health problems such as liver disease, liver failure, liver cancer and even death.
How can I find out that I have hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B can be detected with simple blood tests. As a result of the test, the following conclusions can be reached:
- Do you have / do you have acute or chronic hepatitis B
- Hepatitis B is cured and healed
- Immunity to Hepatitis B
- Is there any benefit from the vaccine
HBV RNA PCR Hepatitis B Test
The HBV RNA test is a reliable test used in the diagnosis of hepatitis B infection. It is also used to confirm the test for those with positive RLS Ag test in the ELISA test and to follow up the hepatitis B carrier. Normal Value is Negative. In this case, we cannot talk about the existence of hepatitis B. If it is positive, it is understood that the hepatitis B virus is present.
In Which Situations Is the HBV RNA Test Used?
Since the antibody level is low in the early stages of HBV (Hepatitis B) infections, serological tests are insufficient. For this reason, a sensitive and specific method, PCR, in which the virus is detected directly, is used. HBV RNA test should also be performed in patients who are positive for RLS AG by ELISA method. HBV RNA can be used to confirm the diagnosis and follow up the treatment in asymptomatic (asymptomatic) carriers, cases in which antibodies have not yet formed, infants born to seropositive mothers, patients who do not show immunological reactions, and patients with positive serological tests.
How is acute hepatitis B treated?
There is no specific treatment for acute hepatitis B. Bed rest and a healthy diet are often recommended, but some people may require hospitalization.
How is chronic hepatitis B treated?
Chronic Hepatitis B patients; should be followed regularly by doctors who are experts in this field in terms of disease development and treatment options.
Treatment may not be necessary in all chronic hepatitis B patients. There are many drug options available for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. With treatment, the disease can be effectively controlled and poor outcomes such as liver failure, cirrhosis or liver cancer can be prevented. Although hepatitis B virus can be effectively controlled with treatment, it is usually not possible to completely remove it from the body.
What should chronic hepatitis B patients do to protect their liver?
Patients with chronic hepatitis B should avoid alcohol. They should always consult their physician before taking any medication. In addition, herbal or various food supplements that are likely to damage the liver should be avoided.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Hepatitis B vaccine is the most effective way to prevent hepatitis B. Hepatitis B vaccine provides over 90% protection, it is safe and effective in this respect. Hepatitis B vaccine is usually administered 3 times within 6 months. The vaccine can be repeated in people with kidney failure and other immunocompromised people.
Is Hepatitis B transmitted to the baby during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, hepatitis B is mostly passed on to the baby during delivery. However, if the hepatitis B level is very high in the mother, there is a possibility of transmission to the baby in the last period of pregnancy. In case of the presence of hepatitis B in the mother, the baby is given vaccine and HBIG serum as soon as possible (within 12 hours) after birth. In addition, some treatments can be applied to pregnant women with very high hepatitis B levels in the last period of pregnancy.