Hepatitis b

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. Most people who get it have it for a short time and then get better. This is called acute hepatitis B.

Sometimes the virus causes a long-term infection, called chronic hepatitis B. Over time, it can damage your liver. Babies and young children infected with the virus are more likely to get chronic hepatitis B.

You can have hepatitis B and not know it. You may not have symptoms. If you do, they can make you feel like you have the flu. As long as you have the virus, you can spread it to others.

Many people who have an acute hepatitis B infection don't have symptoms. But if you do have symptoms, they may include:

• Extreme tiredness (fatigue).
• Mild fever.
• Headache.
• Loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.
• Constant discomfort on the right side of the belly under the rib cage. (That's where the liver is located.)
• Tan-colored bowel movements (stools).
• Dark urine.
• Jaundice. This means that the skin and whites of the eyes look yellow. Jaundice is a major sign of liver damage. It usually appears after other symptoms have started to go away.

Many people who have a chronic infection have no symptoms.

Your doctor will diagnose hepatitis B based on a physical exam and blood tests. You will also be asked about your past health. This includes possible risks for the virus, such as your job and sexual activity.

Blood tests include:

• Hepatitis B antigens and antibodies. These tests help tell if you are or were infected with the virus. They also can show if you've been immunized and if you have long-term (chronic) infection. You also may get tested for the virus's genetic material (HBV DNA).
• Tests to see if the hepatitis A, hepatitis C, or Epstein-Barr viruses are causing your hepatitis.
• Tests to see if you also are infected with hepatitis D.

Blood tests may also be done to help find out if your liver has been damaged.

Treatment of a hepatitis B infection depends on how active the virus is. It also depends on whether you are at risk for liver damage such as cirrhosis.

Treatment of short-term (acute) hepatitis B

If you haven't had a hepatitis B vaccine and think you may have been exposed to the virus, you should get a shot of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG). You should also get the first of three shots of the hepatitis B vaccine. Make sure to get this treatment within 7 days after a needle stick and within 2 weeks after sexual contact that may have exposed you to the virus.

In some cases, you may get medicine to treat an acute infection. But this usually isn't done unless you are very sick.

Treatment of long-term (chronic) hepatitis B

Antiviral medicines are used to stop or slow the growth of the hepatitis B virus and help prevent more serious liver damage. Whether your doctor will suggest treatment depends on how active the virus is and whether your liver is inflamed or damaged.

You may have choices about which medicine to take. The medicines differ in how long you need to take them and in what side effects you might have. Your doctor can help you choose.

• Reduce your activity to match your energy level.
• Avoid alcohol for as long as your doctor tells you to. This may be months. Alcohol can make liver problems worse.
• Make sure your doctor knows all the medicines you take. Some medicines, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), can make liver problems worse. Do not take any new medicines unless your doctor says it is okay.
• Be safe with medicines. If your doctor prescribes antiviral medicine, take it exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
• If you have nausea or vomiting, try to eat smaller meals and eat more often.
• Drink plenty of fluids. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk with your doctor before you increase the amount of fluids you drink.
• If you have itchy skin, keep cool, stay out of the sun, and wear cotton clothing. Talk to your doctor about medicines that can be used for itching. Read and follow the instructions on the label.