What is the treatment of hepatitis B?
Treatment for the acute phase
No treatment can clear the virus. If you develop symptoms when first infected, treatment aims to help ease symptoms until they settle and go. For example, drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration. In rare cases, a severe hepatitis develops which may need specialist hospital care. There is no treatment that can prevent acute hepatitis B from becoming chronic.
Treatment for chronic infection
Not everyone with chronic infection needs treatment. It depends on how 'active' the disease is. The main aim of treatment is to prevent active disease progressing to severe liver inflammation and cirrhosis. A liver specialist will advise on when treatment may help. Briefly:
- If the tests show that the virus is not very active (multiplying slowly) and there is little or no liver inflammation, then you are at low risk of developing severe liver problems such as cirrhosis. You are not likely to need any treatment. You may be advised to have some tests every 6-12 months to keep a check on the liver.
- If the tests show that the virus is multiplying rapidly, or if you have persistent inflammation of the liver, then treatment may be advised. You may be prescribed antiviral medication such as interferon alfa, peginterferon alfa, lamivudine or adefovir dipivoxil. These medicines do not clear the virus from the body. They work by stopping the virus from multiplying. This may prevent or reduce the severity of liver inflammation and damage.
Antiviral treatment does not work in every case and side-effects can be troublesome. Newer medicines are being developed and may prove to be better than the current treatments.
If you develop severe liver damage then a liver transplant may be an option. However, the new liver may also eventually become damaged by the persisting hepatitis B infection.
Diet and alcohol
Most people with chronic hepatitis B will be advised to eat a normal healthy balanced diet. Ideally, anybody with inflammation of the liver should not drink alcohol, or only in small amounts. If you already have liver inflammation, alcohol increases the risk and speed of developing cirrhosis.
Further help and information
Hepatitis B Foundation UK The Great Barn, Godmersham Park, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 7DT Tel: 01227 738279 Web: www.hepb.org.uk
British Liver Trust 2 Southampton Road, Ringwood BH24 1HY Tel: 0870 770 8028 Web: www.britishlivertrust.org.uk
© EMIS and PIP 2006 Updated: November 2006
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Nicola Cornelia George, about 1 year
i have been told i have hepititis b present in my blood stream, i would like to know what i can do about it and will i die? lol im negative for any other diseases and i am a healthy 15 yr old girl.... i have lived in spain for 2 years and had many injections abroad i would like to know what you think of it please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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