About
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that leads to inflammation of the liver. It is caused due to infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
This disease is more infectious than HIV because it is very easily transmitted by blood and other body fluids.
Once infected with the hepatitis B virus, approximately 10% of the people develop a chronic permanent infection.
Hepatitis B is very common in Asia, China, Philippines, Africa and the Middle East. The overall incidence of reported hepatitis B cases is 2 per 10,000 individuals, but the true incidence may be higher, because many cases do not cause symptoms and go undiagnosed and unreported.
Most people do not experience any symptoms during the acute phase of hepatitis B. However, some people might develop symptoms like jaundice, dark urine, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The hepatitis B virus can also cause a chronic infection of the liver that can later develop into liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.
A positive blood test for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) indicates that the person has an active hepatitis infection.
There is no specific treatment for acute hepatitis B. Bed rest along with adequate nutritional balance and replacement of fluids is recommended. Chronic hepatitis B can be treated with drugs, including interferon and antiviral agents.
