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🔑 What is Hepatitis B?
It is a viral infection that targets your liver.
It can lead to both short term (acute) and longterm (chronic) disease.
It’s caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
HBV a big health issue around the world, but many people don’t know much about it.
🔑 How do you get Hepatitis B?
You can get hepatitis B from contact with infected body fluids like blood, semen, or vaginal fluids.
This might happen through unprotected sex, sharing needles, or during childbirth if the mother is infected.
But don’t worry—it’s NOT spread by casual contact like hugging or sharing food.
🔑 What are the symptoms
This infection can be tricky yea: many people with hepatitis B don’t have symptoms at all! 😟
When there are symptoms, they can include:
– feeling really tired
– yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
– dark pee
– joint pain, and
– stomach discomfort
It is easy to mistake these for other illnesses, which is why getting tested is so important.
🔑 Asymptomatic Carriers
Some people carry the hepatitis B virus without ever showing symptoms.
These asymptomatic carriers can still spread the virus to others without knowing it.
This makes regular screening especially if you are at risk, even if you feel completely fine
🔑 What is the difference between Acute and Chronic Hepatitis?
When someone first gets infected, it’s called acute hepatitis B.
Most adults clear the virus on their own within 6 months.
But if the virus remains for longer, it becomes chronic hepatitis B, a long-term condition that can lead to serious liver problems over time
🔑 Who is at Risk?
Certain people are at higher risk, including:
– those with multiple sexual partners
– healthcare workers exposed to blood
– infants born to infected mothers
– people who inject drugs.
It’s important for these groups to get tested regularly and take preventive measures.
🔑 How to get tested
Easy, visit any clinic or diagnostic lab around you to get tested
🔑 Can Hepatitis B be treated?
There’s no cure for hepatitis B
but there are treatments that can help manage the condition and reduce the risk of liver damage
Antiviral medications can keep the virus under control, and regular check-ups with your doctor will be needed.
In worst cases, a liver transplant might be needed.
🔑 How you prevent Hepatitis B?
Good news—there’s a vaccine that’s very effective in preventing hepatitis B!
It’s usually given in three or four shots over six months.
Besides getting vaccinated, you can protect yourself by:
– practicing safe sex
– not sharing needles, and
– ensuring blood products are screened for the virus.
– Prevention is always better than treatment!
🔑 Living with Hepatitis B
This means making some lifestyle changes to protect your liver
– Avoid alcohol
– eat a healthy diet, and
– stay on top of your medical appointments.
Many people with chronic hepatitis B live full, healthy lives with the right care and support.
🔑 Hepatitis B and Pregnancy
Pregnant women with hepatitis B can pass the virus to their babies during childbirth.
But with proper care, including vaccination and possibly antiviral treatment during pregnancy, the risk of passing it on can be greatly reduced.
Babies born to mothers with hepatitis B should receive the vaccine and a special antibody treatment right after birth, and the baby will be Safe 👏🏽
🔑 NOTE
Some people think it can be spread through casual contact like hugging but that is not true!
Hepatitis B is a serious but manageable condition. With proper vaccination, early detection, and appropriate treatment, people with hepatitis B can live healthy lives.
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