Hepatitis
B is a
viral
infection
caused
by the
Hepatitis
B virus
(HBV).
This
virus is
capable
of
causing
life-long
infection,
liver
cirrhosis
(scaring),
liver
failure,
liver
cancer
and
death.
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Causes:
As
mentioned
above
the
cause of
Hepatitis
B is the
virus-
HBV. The
virus
spreads
when
blood
from an
infected
person
enters
the body
of a
non-infected
person.
This
virus
enters
the
blood
stream
and
reaches
the
liver
where it
reproduces
and
releases
large
numbers
of new
viruses
into the
bloodstream.
HBV can
survive
outside
the body
for at
least 7
days and
can
still be
capable
of
causing
infection.
HBV is mainly found in the blood of infected individuals. Saliva, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk also contain the virus but in lower concentrations as compared to the blood. Feces, nasal |
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secretions,
sputum,
sweat,
tears,
urine
and
vomit
have not
been
implicated
in the
spread
of
Hepatitis
B.
Unless
they are
visibly
contaminated
with
blood,
the risk
of
contracting
hepatitis
B from
these
fluids
is
practically
nonexistent.
Hepatitis
B is not
transmitted
by
casual
contact,
hugging,
by
sharing
eating
utensils,
through
food or
water,
etc.
After a
person
has been
exposed
to the
HBV, the
blood
test (HBsAg)
will
become
positive
on an
average
within 4
weeks
(range
1- 9
weeks).
Usually
within
15 weeks
of onset
of the
symptoms,
this
test
becomes
negative
in most
individuals
(except
those
who have
developed
chronic
infection).
Risk
factors
for
developing
Hepatitis
B:
Sexual
contact
with an
infected
individual
Sexual
contact
with
multiple
partners
Male
homosexual
contact
Intravenous
drug
abuse
(due to
sharing
of
infected
needles)
Health
care
workers
(due to
close
contact
with
infected
individuals)
Occupational
blood
exposure
Sharing
toothbrushes,
razors,
etc
From an
infected
mother
to
new-born
infant
Chronic
renal
failure
patients
on
Dialysis
Tattooing,
piercing
of skin
(ears,
lips,
navel,
etc)
Dental
procedure
Medical
procedures
(including
transfusion
of blood
or blood
products)
Staying
with a
chronic
Hepatitis
B
patient
Travelling
to
countries
which
have a
high
prevalence
of
Hepatitis
B
It must
be noted
that
people
of any
age,
sex,
race or
nationality
can be
infected
by this
virus.
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Symptoms:
Sometimes a person with HBV infection may not have any symptoms at all. In patients who do develop symptoms, they occur on an average of about 12 weeks (range 9-21 weeks) after exposure to hepatitis B virus. About 70% of the patients develop symptoms of Hepatitis B. The symptoms include:
*Jaundice:
Yellowness
of skin
and/or
sclera
(white
portion
of the eyes)
*Loss of
appetite
*Abdominal
discomfort
*Nausea
with or
without
vomiting
*Dark
yellow
urine
*Clay
coloured
stools
*Lethargy,
fatigue
*Bodyache,
joint
pain,
etc |
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|
About
Chronic
Hepatitis
B
infection:
Chronic
Hepatitis
B means
that the
body did
not get
rid of
the
virus
when the
patient
was
first
infected
with HBV
thus
leading
to
long-term
HBV
infection.
The
younger
the age
group at
the time
of first
infection
with
this
virus,
the
higher
is the
chance
of
developing
chronic
HBV
infection.
Thus
almost
90% of
infected
infants,
about
30% of
infected
children
between
1-5
years of
age and
only 2-
6% of
infected
people
above 5
years of
age will
develop
chronic
infection.
Carriers
of
Hepatitis
B are
those
individuals
who are
capable
of
transmitting
the
virus to
other
individuals.
Majority
of
hepatitis
B
carriers
are
asymptomatic
(displaying
no
symptoms)
whereas
only 30%
of them
show
symptoms
of the
disease.
Diagnosis:
Following
are some
of the
common
tests
used to
diagnose
Hepatitis
B
infection:
Hepatitis
B
Surface
Antigen
(HBsAg):
It can
be
detected
in high
levels
in serum
during
acute or
chronic
hepatitis.
The
presence
of HBsAg
indicates
that the
person
is
infectious.
Hepatitis
B
Surface
Antibody
(anti-HBs):
The body
normally
produces
antibodies
to HBsAg
as a
part of
the
normal
immune
response
to
infection.
The
presence
of anti-HBs
is
generally
interpreted
as
indicating
recovery
and
immunity
from HBV
infection.
Anti-HBs
also
develops
in a
person
who has
been
successfully
vaccinated
against
hepatitis
B.
Hepatitis
B e
Antigen
(HBeAg):
This is
found in
the
serum
during
acute
and
chronic
hepatitis
B. The
presence
of
Hepatitis
B
envelope
antigen
(HBeAg)
indicates
that the
virus is
replicating
and the
infected
individual
has high
levels
of HBV.
Hepatitis
B e
Antibody
(anti-HBe):
This is
produced
by the
immune
system
temporarily
during
acute HBV
infection.
Hepatitis
B core
antibody
(anti-HBc):
This is
an
antibody
to the
hepatitis
B core
antigen.
The core
antigen
is found
on virus
particles
but
disappears
early in
the
course
of
infection.
This
antibody
is
produced
during
and
after an
acute HBV
infection
and is
usually
found in
chronic
HBV
carriers
as well
as those
who have
cleared
the
virus,
and
usually
persists
for
life. |
| Hepatitis B tests interpretation |
| TEST |
RESULT |
INTERPRETATION |
| HBsAg
anti-HBc
anti-HBs |
Negative Negative
Negative |
Susceptible to Hepatitis B infection
HBsAg |
| HBsAg anti-HBc
anti-HBs |
Negative Positive
Positive |
Immune due to natural infection |
| HBsAg anti-HBc
anti-HBs |
Negative Negative
Positive |
Immune due to Hepatitis B vaccination |
| HBsAg anti-HBc
IgM anti-HBc
anti-HBs |
Positive Positive
Positive
Negative |
Acutely infected |
| HBsAg anti-HBc
IgM anti-HBc
anti-HBs |
Positive Positive
Negative
Negative |
Chronically infected |
| HBsAg anti-HBc
anti-HBs |
Negative Positive
Negative |
* 4 Interpretations possible |
|
* 4
Interpretations
possible
1)
Patient
might be
recovering
from
acute
HBV
infection
2)
Patient
might be
immune
and the
test may
not be
sensitive
enough
to
detect
very low
level of
anti-HBs
in serum
3)
Patient
might be
susceptible
and may
be
having a
false
positive
anti-HBc
4)
Patient
may be
actually
chronically
infected
and may
be
having
undetectable
levels
of HBsAg
in the
serum
Complications
of
Hepatitis
B:
These
include
the
following:
Chronic
hepatitis
Cirrhosis
Liver
failure
Hepatocellular
carcinoma
Homeopathic
Treatment:
Homeopathy
is known
to work
to the
immunological
level,
and has
proven
its
efficacy
in the
treatment
of a
wide
range of
viral
infections.
With
homeopathic
medicines,
the
cases of
Hepatitis
B are
better
controlled,
the
process
of
cirrhosis
is well
kept
under
check
and
symptomatic
relief
is also
obtained
very
well.
Homeopathic
treatment
can also
help in
delaying
the
complications
of
Hepatitis
B (such
as
cirrhosis
and
liver
cancer)
as far
as
possible.
It may
also be
noted
that the
treatment
for
chronic
Hepatitis
B has to
be
planned
for a
longer
duration
of time.
The best
part of
homeopathic
treatment
is that
the
disease
is kept
under
control
and
general
health
improved
without
any kind
of
side-effects
whatsoever. |
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