Hepatitis B - Complications

Complications-Hepatitis B

Contents

1. Overview
2. Symptoms
3. Causes
4. Treatment
5. Complications

People with hepatitis B can sometimes develop serious liver problems. These mostly affect people with an untreated long-term (chronic) infection.

Some of the main problems associated with hepatitis B include:

Cirrhosis

Scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) affects around 1 in 5 people with chronic hepatitis B, often many years after they first got the infection.

Cirrhosis does not usually cause any noticeable symptoms until extensive damage to the liver has occurred, when it can cause:

• tiredness and weakness
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• feeling sick
• very itchy skin
• tenderness, pain or swelling in the tummy
• swelling of the ankles

Hepatitis B - Treatment

Treatment-Hepatitis B

Contents

1. Overview
2. Symptoms
3. Causes
4. Treatment
5. Complications

Treatment for hepatitis B depends on how long you have been infected for:

• short-term (acute) hepatitis B does not usually need specific treatment, but may require treatment to relieve the symptoms
• long-term (chronic) hepatitis B is often treated with medication to keep the virus under control

Emergency treatment can also be given soon after possible exposure to the hepatitis B virus to stop an infection developing.

Hepatitis B - Causes

Causes-Hepatitis B

Contents

1. Overview
2. Symptoms
3. Causes
4. Treatment
5. Complications

Hepatitis B is an infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. The virus is found in the blood and bodily fluids of an infected person.

Many people with hepatitis B have few symptoms and may not know they're infected. They may spread the infection without realising it.

Hepatitis B is most often caught in parts of the world where the infection is more common, although certain groups of people are at risk of picking up the infection in the UK.

Hepatitis B - Symptoms

Symptoms-Hepatitis B

Contents

1. Overview
2. Symptoms
3. Causes
4. Treatment
5. Complications

Only some people with hepatitis B experience symptoms, which usually develop 2 or 3 months after exposure to the hepatitis B virus.

Many people infected in adulthood will not experience any symptoms and will fight off the infection without realising they had it.

But they'll still be able to pass the virus on to others while they're infected.

Hepatitis B - Overview

Overview-Hepatitis B

Contents

1. Overview
2. Symptoms
3. Causes
4. Treatment
5. Complications

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus that's spread through blood and body fluids.

It often does not cause any obvious symptoms in adults, and typically passes in a few months without treatment.

But in children, it often persists for years and may eventually cause serious liver damage.

Hepatitis B is less common in the UK than other parts of the world, but certain groups are at an increased risk.

This includes people originally from high-risk countries, people who inject drugs, and people who have unprotected sex with multiple sexual partners.

A hepatitis B vaccine is available for people at high risk of the condition.