Chronic Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver. It can be either acute or chronic hepatitis.

Untreated Hepatitis B may cause complications, such as liver failure, liver cancer, and cirrhosis. New antiviral medications have the potential to treat Hepatitis B infection.

Screening of family members of the patients is necessary to rule out any Hepatitis B infection.

Transmission routes and risks

• Vertical transmission: A mother with a chronic infection can transmit infection to the baby.

• Close contact between individuals, usually in young children (through open cuts or sores)

• Sexual interaction between male and female

• Transfusion of contaminated blood between individuals

• Needle sharing amongst drug abusers

Risk factors

• HBsAg positive people spreading the infection

• Intravenous drug abuse

• Contaminated transfusion of blood

• Contaminated surgical devices

• Tattoos

• Haemodialysis

Symptoms

• Acute hepatitis involves sudden liver inflammation

• Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, body ache followed by jaundice

• Typically, acute hepatitis is self-limiting, and the body clears a large portion of the infection cases (90%) however, some may develop chronic hepatitis (5%).

• Liver failure may occur in 1 % of patients. Patients may require ICU admission and liver transplantation.

• Chronic hepatitis B presents with mild liver inflammation and increased liver enzymes

• Chronic hepatitis B poses an increased risk of liver cancer and cirrhosis in 30 % of patients.

Diagnosis

• Liver function test reveals elevated SGOT/SGPT and increased bilirubin.

• Positive HBsAg and IgM anti-HBc

Treatment

The main treatment approach is to correctly determine the risk factors for liver diseases and appropriate use of antiviral drugs is recommended.

Need Expert Medical Guidance for Chronic Hepatitis B?

Consult University Gold Medalist Dr. Ankita Gupta at Gastro Liver Endoscopy Centre, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi for customized diagnostic evaluations.