Do you really understand Hepatitis B?

Author: Zhu Zhilin Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University

Reviewer: Wu Chunwei, Chief Physician, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University

Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis B virus and characterized by liver lesions. Clinically, the main manifestations are loss of appetite, nausea, upper abdominal discomfort, liver pain, and fatigue. Some patients may have jaundice, fever, and hepatomegaly, which may be accompanied by liver damage. Some patients may have chronic lesions and may develop into cirrhosis, and a few may develop into liver cancer.

1. Is hepatitis B far from us? How is hepatitis B transmitted?

In recent years, the number of new hepatitis B infections in my country has decreased year by year, but hepatitis B has always been among the top three infectious diseases in my country. At present, the status of hepatitis B patients in my country is that the stock is large and the increase is small. my country is still a major hepatitis B country.

Hepatitis B is mainly transmitted through blood and body fluids, and common transmission routes include mother-to-child transmission, sexual transmission, and medical transmission.

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2. What are the effects of hepatitis B infection on the human body? What should I do if I have hepatitis B?

After being infected with the hepatitis B virus, the virus will invade organs such as the liver, bile duct, pancreas and spleen. If the hepatitis B patient continues to delay treatment, hepatitis B will gradually develop into cirrhosis and finally liver cancer. Especially for hepatitis B patients over 50 years old, those with liver cancer in their family, those who smoke and drink excessively and have fatty liver, they are very likely to develop liver cancer.

What should I do if I am really infected with hepatitis B?

1. Antiviral treatment requires the use of adequate medication and sufficient course of treatment under the guidance of a doctor.

2. Adjust diet. Hepatitis B patients should not drink alcohol and should take appropriate amounts of high-quality protein, vitamins, trace elements, etc., which are beneficial to the repair and regeneration of liver cells. The diet should be light and stay away from high-fat and high-cholesterol foods.

3. Moderate exercise Hepatitis B patients should maintain moderate exercise during the stable period of the disease, such as walking, swimming, jogging, etc. These forms of exercise can improve the body's resistance and promote recovery. At the same time, they should maintain a regular work and rest schedule and ensure about 7 hours of sleep every night.

4. Regular follow-up examinations. The general examination items include hepatitis B DNA, hepatitis B two-to-a-half, serum alpha-fetoprotein and liver ultrasound examination. These examination items can prevent hepatitis B from developing silently into cirrhosis.

3. Is it necessary to get the hepatitis B vaccine? When do I need a booster shot?

It is necessary to get the hepatitis B vaccine, and when the anti-Hbs (hepatitis B surface antibody) is less than 10 mIU/ml, booster vaccination is needed.

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4. How to correctly view hepatitis B?

For a long time, my country has been facing a dilemma in promoting hepatitis B. On the one hand, the public does not understand hepatitis B and its harm, and on the other hand, many people have misunderstandings about hepatitis B, which leads to fear and prejudice against hepatitis B patients, and even discrimination, which has caused great troubles for hepatitis B virus carriers in schooling, employment and daily work.

Only by fully understanding hepatitis B can we correctly view hepatitis B and completely eliminate the fear of hepatitis B. At present, although chronic hepatitis B is difficult to be completely cured through short-term treatment, long-term antiviral treatment can effectively control the disease, thereby greatly reducing the occurrence of adverse consequences such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, and improving the quality of life of patients. Therefore, we must correctly understand hepatitis B and respond scientifically. Hepatitis B is not terrible, it is preventable and curable.

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