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 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.
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
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
Homoeopathic Treatment:
Homoeopathy is known to work to the immunological level, and
has proven its efficacy in the treatment of a wide range of
viral infections. With homoeopathic 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. Homoeopathic 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 homoeopathic
treatment is that the disease is kept under control and
general health improved without any kind of side-effects
whatsoever. |