What is the main cause of hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The virus is passed from person to person through blood, semen or other body fluids. It does not spread by sneezing or coughing.

What are the stages of hepatitis B?

Remarkable progress has been made in our understanding of the four natural stages of chronic hepatitis B (CHB): immune tolerance stage, immune clearance stage, inactive HBsAg carrier stage, and reactivation stage.

How can I cure hepatitis B positive?

Treatment for chronic hepatitis B may include: Antiviral medications. Several antiviral medications including entecavir (Baraclude), tenofovir (Viread), lamivudine (Epivir), adefovir (Hepsera) and telbivudine (Tyzeka) can help fight the virus and slow its ability to damage your liver.

Can you live a long life with hepatitis B?

Although those with chronic hepatitis B infection live with an increased risk of developing liver disease later in life, many should expect to live long and healthy lives. Someone with chronic hepatitis B should be seen by a liver specialist every six months, or more often as needed.

Why Hepatitis B is not curable?

Chronic hepatitis B hasn’t been cured so far in part because current therapies have failed to destroy the viral reservoir, where the virus hides in the cell. This is in contrast to hepatitis C virus, which has no such viral reservoir and can now be cured with as little as 12 weeks of treatment.

Is hepatitis B permanent?

If the virus has been in the blood for more than 6 months, it is considered a permanent (or chronic) hepatitis B infection. About 15 to 40% of individuals develop chronic hepatitis B. Chronic hepatitis B, if left untreated, can cause serious liver injury and increase the chance of liver cancer.

How do you kill the hepatitis B virus?

Bleach is a wonderful disinfectant, and effectively kills HBV, and other pathogens. Don your disposable gloves, and prepare a fresh bleach solution for the cleanup that is one part bleach to nine parts cool water. Use a fresh solution as the potency of the solution quickly diminishes, and do not use hot water.

Can hepatitis B go away completely?

There’s no cure for hepatitis B. The good news is it usually goes away by itself in 4 to 8 weeks. More than 9 out of 10 adults who get hepatitis B totally recover. However, about 1 in 20 people who get hepatitis B as adults become “carriers,” which means they have a chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis B infection.

What happens if you test positive for hepatitis B?

A positive HBsAg test result means that you are infected and can spread the hepatitis B virus to others through your blood. anti-HBs or HBsAb (Hepatitis B surface antibody) – A “positive” or “reactive” anti-HBs (or HBsAb) test result indicates that a person is protected against the hepatitis B virus.

Does hepatitis B clear up on its own?

In most cases, hepatitis B goes away on its own. You can relieve your symptoms at home by resting, eating healthy foods, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding alcohol and drugs. Also, find out from your doctor what medicines and herbal products to avoid, because some can make liver damage caused by hepatitis B worse.

Can you still work if you have hepatitis B?

No, because the majority of people with hepatitis B are healthy, productive and able to perform their jobs. Unless you have severe liver disease, hepatitis B does not impair your ability to be a teacher, nurse, doctor or home health aide.

Can hepatitis B positive became negative?

Normal results are negative or nonreactive, meaning that no hepatitis B surface antigen was found. If your test is positive or reactive, it may mean you are actively infected with HBV. In most cases this means that you will recover within 6 months.

Does Hepatitis B Affect Your Eyes?

Hepatitis can lead to serious eye problems For example, a hepatitis B infection can lead to third nerve palsy. This condition involves a temporary paralysis of the cranial nerve that controls the movement of the eyes. Optic neuritis, which involves inflammation of the optic nerve, may also develop.

How bad is hepatitis B?

Chronic hepatitis B is a serious disease that can result in long-term health problems, including liver damage, liver failure, liver cancer or even death. Approximately 1,800 people die every year from hepatitis B-related liver disease.

How long is hepatitis B contagious?

It also doesn’t spread through sneezing, coughing, or breastfeeding. Symptoms of hepatitis B may not appear for 3 months after exposure and can last for 2–12 weeks. However, you are still contagious, even without symptoms . The virus can live outside the body for up to seven days.

Can you get hepatitis B drinking after someone?

Hepatitis B is not spread through kissing, hugging, breastfeeding, sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, coughing, sneezing, food, water, or casual contact.

Can Hep B be transmitted through saliva?

Hepatitis B is not spread through sneezing, coughing, hugging, or breastfeeding. Although the virus can be found in saliva, it is not believed to be spread through kissing or sharing utensils.

How does hepatitis B make you feel?

Fever. Fatigue that persists for weeks or months. Stomach trouble like loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Belly pain.

What should hepatitis B patients avoid?

Limit foods containing saturated fats including fatty cuts of meat and foods fried in oil. Avoid eating raw or undercooked shellfish (e.g. clams, mussels, oysters, scallops) because they could be contaminated with a bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus, which is very toxic to the liver and could cause a lot of damage.

How do I know if I have chronic or acute hepatitis B?

If you test positive for HBsAg for longer than six months, it means you have a chronic hepatitis B infection. But, if you no longer test positive (or “reactive”) for HBsAg after six months and you develop hepatitis B surface antibodies (HBsAb), then you have cleared hepatitis B after an “acute” infection.