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Chronic Hepatitis B is a life-long infection. Over time, chronic hepatitis B can cause serious health problems, including cirrhosis, liver damage, liver cancer, and even death. A vaccine can prevent this infection. If you’re infected, taking certain precautions can help prevent spreading the virus to others.
What Is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. Some people with hepatitis B are sick for only a few weeks, but for others, the disease progresses to a serious, lifelong illness known as chronic hepatitis B.
How Is Hepatitis B Transmitted?
Hepatitis B is a sexually transmitted disease, but it is spread in other ways as well. This is a hardy virus that can exist on almost any surface for up to one month. You can get infected through contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids. The hepatitis B virus can be spread in the following ways:
- Tattooing or body piercing with unsterile equipment
- Human bites
- Unprotected vaginal or anal sex
- Living in a household with a person with Chronic Hepatitis B
- Sharing personal care items such as razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers
- Sharing needles or paraphernalia for illegal drug use
- A mother passing the infection to her infant during birth
You do not get hepatitis B from coughing, sneezing, kissing, or holding hands.
Difference between Acute and Chronic Hepatitis B
Acute Hepatitis B
Acute hepatitis B is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the hepatitis B virus. Some people with this infection have no symptoms at all or only mild illness.
Chronic Hepatitis B
Some people, especially those who get infected in adulthood, can clear the virus from their bodies without treatment. For other people, acute hepatitis B leads to a life-long infection known as chronic hepatitis B. Having chronic hepatitis B means their immune system was not able to get rid of the hepatitis B virus and it remains in their blood and liver.
Is Chronic Hepatitis B Curable?
There’s no cure for hepatitis B, but there are several options to help you manage your symptoms, lessen your risk of long-term health effects, and prevent the virus from spreading to others.
How To Prevent Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable disease. In addition to vaccination, there are other simple ways to help stop the spread of hepatitis B:
- Use condoms with sexual partners
- Wash your hands thoroughly after any potential exposure to blood
- Avoid direct contact with blood and bodily fluids
- Cover all cuts carefully
- Avoid sharing sharp items such as razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and earrings or body rings
- Avoid illegal street drugs
- Make sure new, sterile needles are used for tattoos, ear or body piercing, and acupuncture
Treatment for Hepatitis B
Most people diagnosed with hepatitis B infection need treatment for the rest of their lives, especially chronic hepatitis B. Treatment helps reduce the risk of liver disease and prevents you from passing the infection to others.
Medications usually recommended may include:
- Entecavir – is an antiviral drug that works by preventing the virus from multiplying. It helps control the infection and makes the immune system work better which lowers the chances of getting complications.
