Treatments for Hepatitis B: Acute and Chronic

Treatment for hepatitis B is not always necessary because most of the time the disease is self-limiting, that is, it heals on its own, however in some cases it may be necessary to use medication.

The best way to prevent hepatitis B is through vaccination, the first dose of which should be taken shortly after birth, and the use of condoms during sexual intercourse, in addition to being recommended to avoid sharing personal objects, such as syringes and toothbrushes. and razor blades.

When necessary, treatment is carried out according to the symptoms and the stage of the disease:

Treatment of acute hepatitis B

In the case of acute hepatitis B, the symptoms are milder and, in most cases, the use of medication is not recommended, with only rest, hydration and a balanced diet recommended. However, to reduce the discomfort caused by nausea and muscle pain, the use of analgesic and anti-emetic medications may be indicated, and it is not necessary to take any specific medication against the hepatitis B virus.

It is important that during treatment the person does not consume alcoholic beverages and, in the case of women, do not use the contraceptive pill. If during this period there is a need to take any other medication, the doctor must be notified, as it may interfere with the treatment or have no effect.

Acute hepatitis usually heals spontaneously due to the activity of the immune system, which creates antibodies against the hepatitis B virus and promotes its elimination from the body. However, in some cases, especially when the immune system is weaker, acute hepatitis can become chronic and the virus can remain in the body.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis B

The treatment of chronic hepatitis B involves rest, hydration and adequate nutrition, as well as the use of specific medications that are normally indicated as a way to prevent the onset of chronic diseases, such as liver cancer.

Anyone with chronic hepatitis B should be careful with their diet, not drinking any type of alcoholic beverage and only taking medication under medical supervision to avoid further damage to the liver. Furthermore, it is important that regular blood tests are carried out to check not only the degree of liver involvement, but also the presence of the hepatitis B virus, as in some cases chronic hepatitis C can be cured and, thus, treatment can be stopped by the doctor.

Despite the possibility, a cure for hepatitis B is difficult to achieve and is often associated with chronic liver diseases due to the proliferation of the virus, such as cirrhosis, liver failure and even liver cancer.

See how you can complement the treatment and increase the chances of a cure in the following video:

Signs of improvement or worsening

The signs of improvement or worsening of chronic hepatitis are not very noticeable, which is why it is recommended that the person carrying the hepatitis B virus undergo regular blood tests to check the presence or absence of the virus, in addition to the viral load, which represents the amount of viruses present in the blood.

Thus, when tests show that the viral load is decreasing, it means that the treatment is being effective and that the person shows signs of improvement, however, when there is an increase in the viral load, it means that the virus continues to be able to proliferate, being indicative of gets worse.

Possible complications

Complications of hepatitis B usually take time to appear and are related to the virus’s proliferative capacity and resistance to treatment, with the main complications being cirrhosis, ascites, liver failure and liver cancer.