Hepatitis means "inflammation of the liver".
Hepatitis B essentially means an infection with the Hepatitis B virus.
Hepatitis B virus size = 0.000 004cm
The symptoms of hepatitis B infection may manifest differently during acute hepatitis and chronic hepatitis, and it may also vary among individuals.
Most infected people may not exhibit any symptoms for many years.
However, the absence of symptoms does not necessarily mean that the infection is under control.
Symptoms of acute infection are:
Symptoms of significant liver damage may include:
There are an estimated 300 million carriers of the hepatitis B virus around the world, with over 500,000 dying annually from HBV-related liver disease.
In Singapore, about 4% (1 in 25 persons) of the population has chronic hepatitis B infection.
The liver is susceptible to damage by the hepatitis B virus. The extent of the damage is variable as this depends upon the liver's ability to repair itself as well as the body's immune system's ability to control the infection.
The complications of this infection include liver scarring (medically known as cirrhosis), liver cancer and liver failure.
The condition can be diagnosed with a blood test.
Vaccines that can effectively prevent infection are now available. Currently, newborns are routinely undergoing vaccination.
Current medications for hepatitis B can effectively control the virus and prevent further damage to the liver.
All persons with Hepatitis B should undergo regular medical follow-up. The purpose of which is to screen for liver cancer and any active liver inflammation. In general, most patients require a follow-up every six months, where an ultrasound will help to detect any suspicious lesions of liver cancer. Early detection of liver cancer plays a vital role in effective cure.
Blood tests include liver function tests to detect any liver inflammation. Alpha fetoprotein is a blood marker that can aid in the diagnosis of liver cancer.
