In most cases, hepatitis B does not cause any symptoms, especially in the first days after infection with the virus. And when these symptoms appear, they are often confused by a simple flu, eventually delaying the diagnosis of the disease and its treatment. Some of those early symptoms of hepatitis B include headache, malaise and poor appetite.
However, as the disease progresses, more specific symptoms of hepatitis may appear. If you think you may have this infection, select what you are feeling to assess the symptoms:
- 1. Pain in the upper right belly Yes No
- 2. Yellowish color in the eyes or skin Yes No
- 3. Yellowish, gray or whitish stools Yes No
- 4. Dark urine Yes No
- 5. Constant low fever Yes No
- 6. Joint pain Yes No
- 7. Loss of appetite Yes No
- 8. Frequent feeling sick or dizzy Yes No
- 9. Easy tiredness for no apparent reason Yes No
- 10. Swollen belly Yes No
When there is a suspicion of being infected it is important to go to the general practitioner, or a hepatologist, to do specific blood tests and identify the type of hepatitis, as the symptoms are generally similar to many other liver problems. In some cases, on a first test, the result of the hepatitis B test may be a false negative and, therefore, the test should be repeated after 1 or 2 months.
How to get hepatitis B
Transmission of hepatitis B occurs through contact with blood or bodily secretions contaminated by the HBV virus. Thus, some of the most common forms of contamination are:
- Intimate contact without a condom; Doing a manicure with contaminated pliers; Sharing syringes; Doing piercings or tattoos with contaminated material; Having had a blood transfusion before 1992; From mother to child through normal birth; Skin injury or needle accident contaminated.
Watch the conversation between nutritionist Tatiana Zanin and Dr. Drauzio Varela, about how it happens and how to prevent transmission:
Saliva can also transmit this virus through bites, but not through kisses or other types of saliva exposure. However, body fluids such as tears, sweat, urine, feces and breast milk are not able to transmit the disease.
How to protect yourself
The best way to avoid being infected with hepatitis B is to have a vaccination, however, it is also important not to have unprotected intimate relationships, as well as to wear gloves whenever it is necessary to come into contact with another person's blood or secretions.
In addition, you should also confirm the conditions of hygiene and sterilization of places of manicure or placement of piercings and tattoos, as there is the manipulation of objects that can easily cut the skin and contaminate the blood.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for acute hepatitis B consists of resting, light food, good hydration and not drinking any alcoholic beverages. Hepatitis cures spontaneously in most cases.
Here's what to eat to recover faster:
In the case of chronic hepatitis B, which occurs when the virus remains in the liver for more than 180 days, it is also advisable to take medications for approximately 1 year to avoid further complications in the liver. Find out more details about the treatment in these cases and which remedies are used.
When an adult is infected with the virus and has a good general state of health, the disease usually occurs mildly and the body itself is able to eliminate the virus. But children who were infected with the virus during childbirth or breastfeeding are at an increased risk of developing the chronic form of the disease and suffering from complications such as cirrhosis, ascites or liver cancer.
