Hepatitis B: Signs, symptoms and tips
THE Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a common virus that attacks the liver. Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver. The HBV lives inside liver cells. When a person is infected, the virus attacks liver cells and destroys them.
By Paul Semugoma
THE Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a common virus that attacks the liver. Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver. The HBV lives inside liver cells. When a person is infected, the virus attacks liver cells and destroys them.
Symptoms and spread
HBV is found in body fluids like blood, sperms, saliva or vaginal fluids. It is transmitted by sex or close contact with an infected person. It is also transmitted at birth to the newborn. Symptoms of hepatitis include fever, abdominal pain, yellow eyes, yellow urine and nausea. In a few cases, severe liver failure and death occurs at the first infection. In many cases, the virus does not cause any symptoms. The body fights back and controls it in about six to eight months. During this time, a person is able to transmit this virus to other people. Nevertheless, he or she gets healed without complications.
Hepatitis C, on the other hand, is mainly spread through contact with an infected person’s blood. However, one cannot get hepatitis by shaking hands, hugging or sitting next to an infected person.
Any need to worry?
For 90—95% of adults who get HBV, the body controls it and they get healed. The problem is with the 5—10% who fail to control it. They can transmit the virus to other people. The virus slowly destroys the liver, causing scarring (liver cirrhosis) and liver cancer. These problems are very difficult to treat, leading to death. Children’s bodies cannot control this virus. When a person gets infected in childhood, it is more likely they will get complications later in life.
What to do
Uganda started vaccinating children against HBV about five years ago. Adults at high risk like health workers and mortuary attendants also need vaccination. In addition, all blood and blood products should be tested so that blood with HBV is not transfused. If a person gets infected:
They need a doctor who will follow them up carefully for about a year, to make sure that their bodies deal with the virus. The doctor may recommend a special diet, restrict drugs and advise against alcohol because it increases liver damage. Treatment may be recommended if the body fails to control the virus
People living in the same household and the sexual partners of an infected person, need to be vaccinated
If a woman is pregnant when she is infected, the child needs to be vaccinated at birth.
Additional reporting by
Irene Nabusoba
THE Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a common virus that attacks the liver. Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver. The HBV lives inside liver cells. When a person is infected, the virus attacks liver cells and destroys them.
Symptoms and spread
HBV is found in body fluids like blood, sperms, saliva or vaginal fluids. It is transmitted by sex or close contact with an infected person. It is also transmitted at birth to the newborn. Symptoms of hepatitis include fever, abdominal pain, yellow eyes, yellow urine and nausea. In a few cases, severe liver failure and death occurs at the first infection. In many cases, the virus does not cause any symptoms. The body fights back and controls it in about six to eight months. During this time, a person is able to transmit this virus to other people. Nevertheless, he or she gets healed without complications.
Hepatitis C, on the other hand, is mainly spread through contact with an infected person’s blood. However, one cannot get hepatitis by shaking hands, hugging or sitting next to an infected person.
Any need to worry?
For 90—95% of adults who get HBV, the body controls it and they get healed. The problem is with the 5—10% who fail to control it. They can transmit the virus to other people. The virus slowly destroys the liver, causing scarring (liver cirrhosis) and liver cancer. These problems are very difficult to treat, leading to death. Children’s bodies cannot control this virus. When a person gets infected in childhood, it is more likely they will get complications later in life.
What to do
Uganda started vaccinating children against HBV about five years ago. Adults at high risk like health workers and mortuary attendants also need vaccination. In addition, all blood and blood products should be tested so that blood with HBV is not transfused. If a person gets infected:
Additional reporting by
Irene Nabusoba