Hepatitis B- An Overview on Causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment

polaleye50 (62)in #steemstem • 7 years ago

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, caused by viruses, heavy consumption of alcohol, toxins, wrong medications, autoimmune diseases among other causes. There are majorly five (5) types of Hepatitis known as the following

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis D
Hepatitis E

Other forms of hepatitis are not as harmful as B. Hepatitis A and E are spread by eating contaminated foods and drinking of contaminated water. Hepatitis B and C are commonly spread through sexual intercourse, blood and it also be passed on the child from during the mother pregnancy and childbirth. While in case of Hepatitis D, it can only infect those people that had been infected with type B.
Mostly, at the early stage, the victim might not notice any symptoms, and may not even know that they have been infected with Hepatitis. The common symptoms of Hepatitis generally are:

Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Weakness of the body
Abdominal pain
Diarrhoea
Yellowish Discoloration of skin

Hepatitis B

Every organs in the body has a vital role they play for the sustenance of life. Our liver is the largest organ in the body system that helps the body in easing the digestion of food, get rid of poisons in the body and as well as storing of energy.
Hepatitis is big threat to the liver and human life entirely.it is a viral diseases that can alter the function of the liver from working properly or even damage it which will pose a threat to a life. Today I will be discussing on Hepatitis B, The causes, Prevention and treatment.

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a viral disease that infects the liver. There are two types of Hepatitis; acute hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis B. these viral infection can be transferred from one person to another through body fluids, blood of an infected person. If an infected person touched a spot and the victim fluid stained the spot, hepatitis virus can survive for long period of time outside the body. If another person that same spot the person may contract hepatitis.
Hepatitis B can cause inflammation of the liver, which may later render the liver useless. This is a major global health problem that put its victim to high risk of death from liver cancer and cirrhosis.

Hepatitis B can also spread through mucosal exposure, saliva, fluids and also through unprotected sexual intercourse. Using sharp objects like razor that has been used before by the victim, uses of contaminated objects.

According to WHO

The hepatitis B virus can survive outside of the body for at least a week. During this time, the virus can still cause infection if it enters the body of a person who is not protected by the vaccine. The incubation period of the hepatitis B virus is 75 days on average, but can vary from 30 to 180 days. The virus may be detected within 30 to 60 days after injection and can persist and develop into chronic hepatitis B.

Causes of Hepatitis?

There are several factors that contributes to Hepatitis viral infection in the body:

Abnormal Immune response against Liver cell
Industrial toxins
Harmful medication that can cause liver injury
Having unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person
Mis-use of drugs like: amoxicillin; clavulante, phenytoin, paracetamol, erythromycin among other drugs that are common cause of drug induce liver injury
Piercing with an unsterilized objects
Share sharp objects like razor with an infected person

Symptoms

The following are the symptoms of Hepatitis B that will manifest in the system of the victim:

Headache
Abdominal pain
Dark or yellow urine
Vomiting
Bowel movement
Fever
Nausea
Clay colour stool
Yellowing of skin

Diagnosis

If you feel all the symptoms mention above, like flu, yellowing of skin, dark urine, fatigue, loss of appetite, please visit your doctor for normal diagnosis. A blood test will do to find out if you have hepatitis. There is nothing to fear, if you have strong immune system, it usually get off the body system within six (6) months.

Prevention and Precaution

There several ways for you to protect your yourself from getting hepatitis B:
Do not share used sharp objects that are not yours
Stop self-medication habit
Always protect hand with glove, any time you are about to touch blood or fluid
Always use new razor
Use condom when you have sex. For examples for multiple partners
Get vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine. Taking vaccine to protect yourself and also to help your body fight against the infections. Vaccine offer protection against viral infection.

Treatment

It is better to start receiving treatments as soon as you discovered through medical test that you have HPV. Treatment of Hepatitis B varies depending on the severity level of the infection, either acute or chronic.
Acute hepatitis B, if you discover any symptoms of acute HPV, treatment with antiviral drugs or injection will not be necessary. You have to start doing the followings:

Eating balance diet to boost your immune mechanism to start fighting strongly against HPV virus
Stop drinking alcohol and use of drugs
Drinking plenty of water per day

Doing all these, will help your body mechanisms to quickly combat the hepatitis virus in your body.

Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis

Taking treatment for chronic HPV infection depends on the level of the virus activities in your body system and also the health status of your liver damage. The treatment will only reduce the level of the virus activities in your body, and also stop them from multiplying in your body system. Scientist around the globe are still finding and experimenting on the final solution (cure) for the infection. Let’s pray soon they will find out the ultimate cure for this infection.
Antiviral treatment are use in this case to reduce the level of the virus activities in on the liver to stop them from multiplying. Also to stop them from destroying the liver totally. It is not everyone who has chronic hepatitis that is giving the anti-viral treatment. As I have stated earlier on, it all depends on the activity level of the virus.
In a case where there is damage of liver, the treatment is liver transplant. Always consult a medical doctor before taking any action. As self-treatment will cause you more harm than good.