Hepatitis B is caused by a virus called Hepatitis B virus (HBV) . HBV attacks the liver and can cause lifelong infection, but usually gets better on its own. If it doesn’t get better within 2-12 days, it’s called chronic HBV which is currently incurable and can cause cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and eventually death.

Causes

HBV occurs when the blood of an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person. You can get HBV through unprotected sex, sharing needles, having a tattoo or body piercing done with dirty tools that were used on somebody else, sharing a razor with an infected person, through needle sticks or sharps exposures on the job, or an infected mother can give it to her baby during birth.

Signs and Symptoms

About 30% of people have no signs or symptoms. Signs and symptoms are less common in children than in adults. Hepatitis B can almost make you feel like you have the flu.
• Jaundice
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea, vomiting
• Joint pain

Doctors diagnose HBV with the confirmation of a blood test. Not only does the blood test confirm or deny the presence of the virus, but it will also tell the seriousness of the virus.

Prevention

Health care professionals have found the best course of prevention to be vaccination. In children, the vaccines are given in three doses and provide life-long protection from the virus. The first dose is given at birth, and the entire regimen finished by the age of 6-18 months. In the event that an individual under 18 wasn’t vaccinated in infancy, they can still have the HBV vaccination and may want to consider it. Routine vaccinations for HBV started in 1991. Since then, instances of HBV have dropped by 95% in children and adolescents, and 75% in all age groups.

Treatment

The most common treatment is medication, which helps to reduce the affects of the virus on the liver by slowing it down or stopping the HBV from reproducing. There is no known cure as stated above, but in some rare cases, a person may lose the Hepatitis B virus and develop protective surface antibodies.

Home Remedies
• Regain your energy by including complex carbohydrates in the form of whole wheat and its products. Avoid refined sugars and processed foods in your diet.
• Take proper rest, don’t over-exert your self.
• High proteins can cause further liver damage so include a moderate amount of proteins in the form of skimmed milk, skimmed yoghurt, legumes, pulses and sprouts.
• Decrease overall consumption of fats and oils and include MCTs (medium chain triglycerides) like butter, cream, coconut oil while preparing food as they are rapidly absorbed into the intestine and pose less stress on the liver.
• Have small and frequent meals at regular intervals.
• Avoid the consumption of alcohol completely.

-Anne

Do you have any home remedies for Hepatitis B? Comment and share them with us!

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