Hepatitis B Chronic Infection
Hepatitis B Chronic Infection
Hepatitis B chronic infection is a serious virus that attacks the liver and can cause serious illness and death. It is caused by a virus that lives in the blood and can be spread from person to person by contact with blood or other body fluids. It can also be spread from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth.
Chronic hepatitis B is a long-term infection that does not go away. About 5–10 percent of people with acute hepatitis B infection develop chronic hepatitis B. People who have chronic hepatitis B can live with the virus for many years without feeling sick. Over time, however, they are at increased risk for developing cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Hepatitis B
Many people with chronic hepatitis B infection have no signs or symptoms. For those who do, the most common symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Joint pain
- Jaundice (yellowish color to the eyes or skin)
Diagnosing Chronic Hepatitis B
Diagnosing chronic hepatitis B requires a physical exam and a series of tests. Blood tests including a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test, a hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) test, and a hepatitis B viral load test can help identify hepatitis B and detect whether the virus is acute or chronic.
Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis B
Treatment for chronic hepatitis B infection often involves taking antiviral medications such as interferon alpha, peginterferon, nucleoside/nucleotide analogs, or immunomodulators. Antiviral drugs work by blocking the virus from replicating in the body, thus limiting the damage it can cause. Treatment duration depends on a person’s symptoms, virus level, and liver health.
Other treatment options for chronic hepatitis B include treating complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer, managing symptoms, improving nutrition, avoiding alcohol and drugs, and vaccinating other family members who may be at risk of infection.
