How is hepatitis B treated?

What is hepatitis and how does it happen?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by viruses. There are five strains: A, B, C, D and E. They differ in modes of transmission, severity of the disease and methods of prevention. The most dangerous strains are B and C. They most often lead to chronic disease and serious consequences – cirrhosis and liver cancer.

According to WHO estimates, almost 300 million people in the world suffer from chronic hepatitis B , and only 10.5% are aware of their condition. In Russia in 2022, 9.3 thousand patients were diagnosed with this disease .

How can you get infected?

The virus is transmitted through biological fluids – blood, saliva, semen, vaginal secretions. There are several main routes of infection.

• Unprotected sex with an infected person.
• Sharing needles when injecting drugs.
• Accidental needle stick. For example, healthcare workers who come into contact with human blood have an increased risk of infection.
• From mother to child. This option is especially dangerous because chronic hepatitis B developsin 95% of cases in infancy and early childhood and only 5% in adults.

In addition, hepatitis B can be contracted through tattooing or piercing if the artist used unsterile instruments. Therefore, it is important to choose trusted specialists.

What are the symptoms of the disease?

Image: Pikovit/Shutterstock

At the initial stage, hepatitis B is most often asymptomatic. Some people experience yellowing of the skin, scleritis (clouding) of the eyes, and dark urine. Others may experience severe weakness, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In most cases, patients recover from acute infection. But in severe cases, it can lead to the development of liver failure. They speak of a chronic form when the disease drags on for six months or more.

It is impossible to distinguish hepatitis B from other types by symptoms alone ; a blood test will be required. Additionally, sometimes your doctor will order an ultrasound or biopsy to evaluate liver damage.

Even if a person has no signs of illness, they may be advised to get tested for hepatitis B. For example, if they are pregnant, after unprotected sex, if they have HIV, hepatitis C or other sexually transmitted diseases, or if they are taking medications that suppress the immune system .

How is hepatitis B treated?

What doctors do depends on when the patient gets sick.

In the first 24 hours after contact with the carrier

If a person suspects that he has recently become infected and has not been vaccinated against hepatitis B, he will be given an injection of immunoglobulin, a drug that increases the body’s resistance to viruses. They can be very different. For example, the first Russian intravenous specific immunoglobulin recently appeared on the market . It is expected that the drug will reduce the risk of transmission of hepatitis B from a carrier mother to a child, and will also help patients with an increased risk of infection before surgery, blood transfusion, and organ transplantation.

When an acute infection occurs

In some cases, the disease goes away on its own, and the doctor only monitors the indicators and recommends the patient rest, proper nutrition and plenty of drinking. In severe cases, a person may be admitted to hospital and prescribed antiviral drugs.

In addition, 1% of people living with hepatitis B are also infected with HIV. WHO recommends treatment for such patients regardless of the stage of the disease, because HIV infection can worsen hepatitis symptoms.

For chronic infection

Most people need treatment for life. Treatment is aimed at reducing the risk of liver complications and preventing the infection from being passed on to others. Your doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs or injections of interferon, a man-made version of a substance the body makes to fight viruses. In severe cases, the patient needs a liver transplant.

What about prevention?

Image: Pikovit/Shutterstock

There is a vaccine against hepatitis B – in Russia it is included in the national vaccination calendar. WHO experts say it is necessary to vaccinate all children within 24 hours of birth, and then give another 2-3 injections at intervals of at least four weeks. The vaccine protects for at least 20 years and likely for life. WHO estimates that the proportion of children under five with chronic infection fell to 1% in 2019, compared with 5% between 1980 and 2000, when hepatitis B was not widely vaccinated. By the way, you can get vaccinated for the first time as an adult.

In addition, to reduce the risk of infection, experts recommend :

• Use a condom if you are not sure about the health of your partner.
• Choose tattoo and piercing parlors carefully. Before the procedure, you can ask how workers sterilize instruments. If they can’t answer, it’s best to look elsewhere.
• Do not sharerazors, toothbrushes or other personal items that may have body fluids on them