HEPATITIS B IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA

Many individuals with acute hepatitis B have no symptoms. If symptoms do materialize, they can include joint pain, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored feces, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Symptoms of chronic hepatitis B are frequently delayed until later stages. It may eventually cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, or damage to the liver.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the cause of hepatitis B. Usually, HBV spreads when contaminated blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or other body fluids come into touch with healthy people. Unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles or syringes, and mother-to-child transmission during childbirth are common methods of transmission.

Multiple sexual partners or unprotected sex might raise the chance of catching the virus. Sharing syringes or needles with a person who has hepatitis B greatly increases the danger. Higher risk groups include people who work in healthcare or who are around blood or bodily fluids. Hepatitis B can be transmitted to the fetus during childbirth if the mother has it. Hepatitis B is more common in other nations, especially in Asia and Africa.

Age of infection is a significant factor in whether hepatitis B develops into a chronic condition. If an infant is infected, he or she has a 90 percent chance of developing chronic hepatitis B. Serious complications from chronic hepatitis B include:

• Cirrhosis —Inflammation from hepatitis B can lead to scarring of the liver and the liver’s inability to function correctly
• Liver cancer —chronic hepatitis B is the most common cause of liver cancer
• Liver failure —when the liver shuts down, a liver transplant is imperative
• Kidney problems —hepatitis B can cause kidney failure. Children are more likely to recover from kidney issues than adults.
• Hepatitis D infection —if you have chronic hepatitis B, you are at risk of developing hepatitis D. Only those infected with HBV are susceptible to hepatitis D.

If you have chronic hepatitis B, your doctor may want to do a liver biopsy. Using a small needle your doctor can remove a tiny piece of liver tissue. A liver biopsy helps determine whether there is damage to the liver and choose the best method of treatment.

While acute hepatitis B may not need any treatment, chronic hepatitis B may require:

• Antiviral medications —this medication will slow the virus’ ability to damage the liver
• Liver transplant —for severe liver damage, you may need a transplant
• Monitoring –your doctor will regularly monitor you for signs and laboratory evidence of liver disease progression

For acute hepatitis B, there is typically no specific treatment. Doctors may advise rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and monitoring liver function. Chronic hepatitis B is managed by suppressing the virus, reducing liver damage, and preventing complications. Antiviral medications like entecavir, tenofovir, or interferon-alpha may be administered. Regular monitoring of the viral load and liver health is required.

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent hepatitis B. The vaccine is typically administered in three doses. Practicing safe sex by using barrier methods, such as condoms, during sexual activity can help to prevent the spread of HBV. Also, if you use injection drugs, avoid sharing needles or syringes.  For healthcare workers be sure to follow strict infection control practices.

Hepatitis literally means “inflammation of the liver.” Hepatitis is a viral disease which targets the liver includes several strains, but the most common types of viral hepatitis in the United States are hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Both of these diseases can range from mild cases lasting only a few weeks to a lifelong or chronic condition.

Hepatitis C is an infection caused by the hepatitis C virus, which leads to liver inflammation. Most individuals who have hepatitis C are unaware that they have the disease until routine blood tests (possibly decades later) show that they have evidence of liver inflammation. Hepatitis C is widely accepted as the most common hepatitis virus causing chronic inflammation, and it is most often spread through contact with infected blood. Sharing needles is the most common way in which hepatitis C spreads. Common symptoms of hepatitis C include fatigue, fever, nausea, muscle/joint pain and yellowing of the skin and eyes.

The rate of hepatitis C has significantly decreased since 1992 when blood supply screening became more sophisticated. Before that time, hepatitis C was often spread through organ donations or blood transfusions

Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and can cause both acute and chronic liver complications. Because blood screening technology has significantly reduced the number of new cases of hepatitis C, hepatitis B now has more new cases per year. In the most serious cases, hepatitis B can cause liver failure, liver cancer or cirrhosis (permanent scarring of the liver). If you contract hepatitis B as an adult, you are likely to make a full recovery. For infants and youths, hepatitis B has a greater risk of developing into a chronic condition.