Hepatitis B does not always have a cure, but around 95% of cases of acute hepatitis B in adults are spontaneously cured and, in most cases, there is no need to carry out specific treatment and it is only necessary to be careful with your diet, not drinking. alcoholic drinks, avoid exertion and hydrate correctly, because the body’s own defense cells can fight the virus and eliminate the disease.
However, approximately 5% of cases of acute hepatitis B in adults can progress to chronic hepatitis B when the infection lasts more than 6 months. In this case, the risk of serious liver damage such as liver cirrhosis and liver failure, for example, is high and the chances of a cure are minimal, as the body was unable to fight the hepatitis B virus and it remained in the liver.
See how to correctly treat hepatitis B to increase the chances of a cure.
Who can develop chronic hepatitis B
There is a greater risk of children infected with the hepatitis B virus developing the chronic form of the disease, and the younger they are, the greater this risk. Newborn babies who were infected by their mother during pregnancy or birth have the most difficulty eliminating the virus. In this case, the best way for pregnant women to protect their babies is by undergoing prenatal care.
Furthermore, when adequate treatment is not taken during the acute phase of hepatitis B, such as maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding alcoholic beverages, there is also an increased risk of developing the chronic form.
Children and adults with chronic hepatitis B require more specific treatment recommended by a hepatologist, which can be done with antiviral medications such as Interferon and Entecavir, for example.
Watch the following video to learn how food can help cure hepatitis and prevent the chronic form of the disease:
How to confirm a cure for hepatitis B
After 6 months of treatment, confirmation of a cure for hepatitis B can be done through blood tests that reveal the amounts of ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, GT gamma and bilirubin.
However, not all patients who develop chronic hepatitis B, especially children, are cured and may have liver complications such as cirrhosis or cancer and, in these cases, liver transplantation may be indicated.
