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Hepatitis B is the most common form of acute and chronic viral hepatitis. This liver infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). This virus is most commonly transmitted through blood, tears, urine, saliva, breast milk, semen and vaginal fluid. Exposure to any contaminated body fluid can result in contracting the disease. The virus is often passed through sexual activity as well as needle sharing among intravenous drug users. Other methods of transmission include tattooing, body piercing, toothbrushing and small abrasions into which contaminated fluids have been introduced. Infected mothers may pass Hepatitis B to unborn children. When this happens, chances are that the infection will have no marked symptoms in the child. It is also very likely that such children will become Hepatitis B carriers.
While Hepatitis B can result in acute or chronic hepatitis, Hepatitis B can also infect an individual without that individual suffering from the symptoms. These individuals are only carriers and can freely pass on the disease to others. These people were not necessarily born with the virus. For some reason, their body repels the negative effects of the virus while still keeping the virus active for transmission to others.
When symptoms of Hepatitis B are present, they may include loss of appetite, dark urine, vomiting, bloody stools, sleep disturbances, abdominal pain, confusion, loss of sexual drive, fatigue, headache and fever. Jaundice may also follow. This is a yellowing of the skin, body fluids and the whites of the eyes. As the disease progresses, the bile pigments which are normally passed into the intestines are not able to do so. This results in very light colored stools.
While most people recover from acute hepatitis and the Hepatitis B virus, a small number of people will develop chronic hepatitis. Some chronic hepatitis patients may also have no marked symptoms of the disease, while others may become very ill. The symptoms for chronic hepatitis include jaundice, signs of cirrhosis, fatigue, and gastrointestinal bleeding. As the disease progresses, the liver is no longer able to perform its task of detoxifying for the body. This can result in a fluid accumulation within the abdomen and abdominal swelling.
Individuals with Hepatitis B can be diagnosed with a blood test to check for the Hepatitis B surface antigen. This is a viral particle present in HBV infections. If the level is too low to detect, other more sensitive tests may be performed. A physician will also make inquiries to assess the level of risk for the disease. This may include questions about current or past drug use and incidences of unprotected sexual activity. Other tests to determine at what level the liver is functioning may be necessary. These tests are normally done after a liver biopsy is performed. With chronic hepatitis sufferers, a Hepatitis Be Antigen test can be done to determine the level of infectiousness. Chronic HBV occurs in a very small number of infected adults but it is rarely cured, even with medical therapy. How the disease progresses depends upon the extent of damage to the liver and other factors which may vary from patient to patient.
In severe cases of acute HBV, there has been complete liver failure, requiring immediate hospitalization. A small percentage become candidates for liver transplants. A smaller percentage do not survive. With transplants, the new liver is eventually infected with HBV. Patients recovering from acute Hepatitis B can expect to do so in two to twelve weeks. An effective Hepatitis B vaccine is available. This vaccine is offered in a series of three shots and is now routinely offered to children.
Whenever an individual experiences jaundice (yellowing of skin and/or white of the eyes), a doctor should be called immediately, even if no other symptoms of liver disease are present. If confusion, bleeding, nausea or vomiting are present at the same time of the jaundice, this may be a signal of liver disease of some kind of hepatitis.
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