Hepatitis B (HBV), like Hepatitis -C as we explain in this post-, is a serious viral disease. This liver infection can become chronic, as it is called when it lasts more than 6 months. What is hepatitis B and how to detect it? How dangerous is it? How do I know if I suffer from it? What should I do? We will see all this in this post.
The most important thing, like all diseases – especially sexually transmitted ones – is both prevention and early detection. If you have not yet been infected there are vaccines, but if you have already been exposed there is no cure. If you fear you have been infected, try this test. In this article we give you more information:
Hepatitis B
The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 300 million people are infected. As with hepatitis C, about 1.5 million people are thought to be infected each year.
In a single year it can cause up to a million deaths by progressing to more serious diseases such as liver cancer, cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.
However, there is a vaccine, with a very high efficiency, between 98% and 100%. The most affected areas are Africa and the Western Pacific.
Symptoms
As with other hepatitis, there are no symptoms right after infection. But, some people develop an acute condition with the following symptoms:
- Yellowing of eyes and skin
- Dark urine
- Abdominal pain
- Threw up
- Exhausted
- Dizziness
- Nausea
Causes
This disease affects the liver. It is commonly transmitted:
- From mother to child during childbirth
- During sexual encounters without a condom or other means of protection
- Injections with infected needles or syringes
- Irresponsible injection drug use
- Exposure to infected sharp material in health centers.
It should also be noted that there are factors that can complicate the disease such as liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver cancer or liver failure.
Additionally, as the Mayo Clinic explains, there are nearly 3 million people living with hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV) at the same time. In general, HIV advances are usually treated first, but there are also joint treatments.
Detection
Although there is no cure, early detection can be the difference between controlling the infection in time or it turning into more dangerous or deadly pathologies. For this reason, as we had previously told you, the most important thing, in addition to prevention, is early detection.
For this reason, we invite you to take the test for its detection as soon as possible. You can buy it right here, in addition to hepatitis B, it will tell you if you suffer from hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia or herpes.
It will only take a blood sample and you will have your results in a week. Now you know what is hepatitis B and how to detect it.
David Peña Neira
SEM specialist at Civitatis. Digital marketing and data analysis expert with experience in planning and implementing digital campaigns and as product manager. Graduated from a Master in Big Data and another in Digital Marketing