Article Advise

submitted: Apr 5th 2008 | by: ElizabethCampbell | Total views: 7 | Word Count: 468 | |

Hepatitis B is a disease caused by a virus and contracted through infection with the hepatitis virus B. The infection establishes the development of scarred tissue in a person's liver and develops hepatic dysfunction and liver cirrhosis, hepatic cancer and eventual death of the patient.

Hepatitis B virus is found in infected blood or liquids of the human body, such as semen and vaginal secretions. This is the reason why the virus can be easily transferred through blood transfusion, using infected syringes and needles in hospitals, dental clinics, through body piercing and even through manicures. Needless to say, this infection can be readily transferred through unprotected sexual contact and by the mother to the newborn during child birth.

The symptoms of the acute hepatitis B infection are diverse. One of them is the color change of the white part of the eye; it becomes yellowish. The skin can go through the same changes, which could also indicate an infection with that virus. The urine of an infected individual could turn orange or even brown when such an infection happens, and feces are discolored.

Another symptom of the infection would be an extreme feeling of fatigue that could last for weeks.

There are also a number of symptoms, which can be the manifestation of other affections, like flu, which can also mean a viral infection with B hepatitis. The patient may present fever, lack of appetite, nausea, and even vomit.

The symptoms begin to appear one to six months after exposure to an infected person or object. Take note that approximately 30 percent of infected individuals do not show any symptom of being infected. Chronic hepatitis B and acute hepatitis B have similar symptoms, except that in chronic hepatitis B, the feeling of fatigue and exhaustion is more severe and the patient starts getting disoriented.

Upon suspicion of infection, the doctor will do a series of blood tests and other relevant examinations to determine if the hepatic functions are still intact. If the tests prove positive for the hepatitis B infection, then a hepatic biopsy will be advised to determine how far gone the disease is. Special treatments for the illness will be advised by the doctor depending on the patient's condition and gravity of the disease.

Cases of acute hepatitis B are rare. If promptly detected and treated, it can be cured in six months more or less. Some cases of acute hepatitis B can develop into chronic hepatitis. A person who has been exposed to the virus should go to the doctor at once so that she could be administered a special vaccine. The vaccine will cause the body to prep up the immune system to combat the infection. It is best for hepatitis B patient to take a lot of rest in order to speed up their recovery.

About the Author

Worried about stds, std symptoms or std treatment? STD Information is a huge resource for all sorts of information on all sexually transmitted diseases, including Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Herpes, Syphilis, Hepatitis, HIV and Aids. Learn more.

Comments

No comments posted.

You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you may be able to comment.