Treatment for hepatitis B depends on the stage of the disease. For hepatitis sharp, the treatment aims only to alleviate the symptoms. In the phase chronic, hepatitis B is treated with specific drugs to combat virus multiplication, decrease liver damage, and prevent the progression of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Treatment of acute hepatitis B also includes care, such as avoiding alcoholic beverages and medication without a prescription, as well as relative rest (decrease physical activity).
Symptoms at this stage are present in the minority of cases and may include fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, darkening of the urine, joint pain and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
Although most people with Hepatitis B recover from the disease without complications, there are rare cases in which the condition progresses to fulminant hepatitis, which can lead to death.
Treatment for these patients should be intensive and specialized, with control of body salts and fluids, heart rate, breathing, bleeding and, when necessary, liver transplantation.
Treatment of hepatitis B in the chronic phase is defined after liver biopsy. The medications used will contain viral replication and hepatic inflammation, preventing cirrhosis and liver cancer.
To prevent hepatitis B, just take the vaccine, use a condom in all sexual intercourse and do not share needles, syringes, manicure and pedicure materials or any piercing or sharp object. Hepatitis B vaccine is available free of charge at the Health Units of SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde).
Learn more at:
Hepatitis B has a cure? If so, what is the treatment?
Is there a vaccine for hepatitis b?
What are the symptoms of hepatitis B?
