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Hepatitis B can be a life threatening disease in extreme cases. Hepatitis B has the potential for causing disease outbreaks in huge proportions. It could cause epidemics or even an endemic. The disease had already caused havoc in certain parts of Asia. Though, the disease has been termed as life threatening and can cause chronic ailments, it can also be prevented by a vaccination.
Hepatitis B affects the liver and could affect wide spread damage. It’s important that people stay away from those who are already infected by the disease as the disease can be spread by the blood, and even through bodily fluids.
How hepatitis B affects humans
Hepatitis B is caused as a result of a virus known as the Hepatitis B virus. The virus begins with affecting your liver where it causes inflammation in the liver, and then the virus may cause liver cancer, if not treated in the beginning. People who have been infected with Hepatitis B can get jaundice and also death at times.
Although death is the rarest possibility, if the infected person develops liver cancer, then the disease does not respond to chemotherapy and may lead to death.
Signs and symptoms
There are many signs that would tell you that the person has indeed developed Hepatitis B, or the person has just been affected with Hepatitis B. Fever, vomiting along with general ill health could lead to the disease. Nausea or loss of appetite can also be one of the symptoms of Hepatitis B. There are times when a person infected with Hepatitis B can also start experiencing a change in the colour of their urine, the urine becomes darker, their body aches and then all these symptoms lead to jaundice.
There are cases when itchy skin has also been seen as a symptom of Hepatitis B. The symptoms could continue in the infected person for a longer period of time, and then it may lead to Hepatitis B. You may also come across situations when the disease was not recognized in the earlier stages and it eventually destroyed the liver, resulting in death.
Chronic Hepatitis B is often related to chronic inflammation of liver. The infected liver may develop liver cirrhosis, which could lead to liver cancer, a fatal situation for anyone.
Diagnosis of Hepatitis B
Diagnosis of Hepatitis B is done by taking blood tests and serum tests of the person. The tests which diagnoses Hepatitis B in humans is called assays. New tests called PCR tests have been developed to check the extent of Hepatitis B infection in people.
Prevention of Hepatitis B
Vaccinations are the best way to get protected from Hepatitis B. A vaccination is given in doses for both children and adults. Hepatitis B is normally transmitted through bodilyy fluids, which includes unprotected sex and blood transmission. Therefore you are advised to keep away from such activities, where you could possibly contract the disease.
Treatment of Hepatitis B
Treatment for Hepatitis B is a necessary step, especially if someone is suffering from chronic Hepatitis B. In such cases proper medication is advised to cure chronic Hepatitis B. Any negligence could lead to liver cancer.
Treatment is only required in chronic ailments of Hepatitis B, but no treatment is required in cases of acute forms of Hepatitis B. Adults can respond to the acute form of disease without the use of any medication. There may be treatments necessary, but for a very small percentage of patients.
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