What is hepatisis b?

Answer 1

Hepatitis B is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the liver due to infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Hepatitis B infection can be spread through having contact with the blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and other body fluids of someone who already has a hepatitis B infection.

Infection can be spread through:

• Blood transfusions (not common in the United States)

• Direct contact with blood in health care settings

• Sexual contact with an infected person

• Tattoo or acupuncture with unclean needles or instruments

• Shared needles during drug use

• Shared personal items (such as toothbrushes, razors, and nail clippers) with an infected person

The hepatitis B virus can be passed to an infant during childbirth if the mother is infected.

Risk factors for hepatitis B infection include:

• Being born, or having parents who were born in regions with high infection rates (including Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean)

• Being infected with HIV

• Being on hemodialysis

• Having multiple sex partners

• Men having sex with men

Most of the damage from the hepatitis B virus occurs because of the way the body responds to the infection. When the body's immune system detects the infection, it sends out special cells to fight it off. However, these disease-fighting cells can lead to liver inflammation.

SymptomsAfter you first become infected with the hepatitis B virus:

• You may have no symptoms

• You may feel sick for a period of days or weeks

• You may become very ill (called fulminant hepatitis)

If your body is able to fight off the hepatitis B infection, any symptoms that you had should go away over a period of weeks to months.

Some people's bodies are not able to completely get rid of the hepatitis B infection. This is called chronic hepatitis B.

Many people who have chronic hepatitis B have few or no symptoms. They may not even look sick. As a result, they may not know they are infected. However, they can still spread the virus to other people.

Symptoms may not appear for up to 6 months after the time of infection. Early symptoms may include:

• Appetite loss

• Fatigue

• Fever, low-grade

• Muscle and joint aches

• Nausea and vomiting

• Yellow skin and dark urine due to jaundice

People with chronic hepatitis may have no symptoms, even though gradual liver damage may be occurring. Over time, some people may develop symptoms of chronic liver damage and cirrhosis of the liver.

direclty from Webmd