Chronic hepatitis B: how many live with it? Hepatitis B: symptoms, treatment, diet

Quite often in modern medical practice chronic hepatitis B is registered. How many live with it and what are the patient's predictions? What symptoms are accompanied by ailment? Many people are interested in answering these questions, because this disease is considered to be one of the most widespread on the planet today. Moreover, with untimely diagnosis and lack of treatment, hepatitis often ends with the death of a person.

What is hepatitis B?

To begin with it is necessary to consider the basic characteristics and features of the disease. The term "chronic hepatitis B" is used to combine a group of diseases that affect hepatocytes. Of course, pathological changes in the hepatic tissues affect the work of the whole organism.

In most cases, such liver damage is observed when the virus enters the body. It is believed that almost a third of the world's population is ill or had previously been infected with this infection. Approximately 7% of cases of acute hepatitis becomes chronic, which is difficult to treat. By the way, the development of this disease can be associated with other factors.

Viral hepatitis and its features

What is chronic hepatitis B? How many live with him? Are there effective methods of treatment? These questions are certainly important, but first you should consider the causes and mechanism of the disease.

As already mentioned, this defeat is most often associated with the penetration of specific viral particles into the body. Hepatitis B virus is secreted together with biological fluids - it concerns not only blood, but also sperm, vaginal secretions and saliva. Accordingly, it is very easy to pick up the infection when contacting an infected person. According to the research, in families where a person with a viral hepatitis lives, after 5-10 years everyone becomes infected - the virus particles spread by the household way.

Earlier, it was possible to catch an infection during an injection or blood transfusions, visits to a dental office and even a manicure. Today, such a spread of the virus is rare, since disposable instruments, as well as effective equipment for sterilization, have come into use. Nevertheless, the risk group includes people from socially disadvantaged groups of the population, as well as workers in the sphere of intimate services, drug addicts, and people with promiscuity. Infection can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy.

Other forms of chronic hepatitis B

Not only a viral infection can cause the development of hepatitis B. There are other well-known forms of this ailment:

• Autoimmune chronic hepatitis is a disease associated with genetic disorders in the functioning of the immune system, as a result of which it begins to attack its own cells. As a rule, the autoimmune reaction is provoked by the same viruses of hepatitis, as well as herpes and some other groups of infections.
• Alcoholic hepatitis develops against a background of constant, prolonged abuse of alcohol. It is observed in patients with chronic alcoholism.
• Medicinal chronic hepatitis develops as a side effect with uncontrolled administration of large doses of certain drugs, for example, antibiotics, isoniazid, powerful painkillers, anticoagulants, etc.

Stages of development of viral hepatitis

What does chronic hepatitis B look like? Symptoms of the disease depend primarily on the stage of the development of the disease, which is usually divided into four:

• The stage of immune tolerance is observed in the event that the patient's infection occurred at a very young age. During this period, there are no manifestations of the disease. By the way, it can be long - up to 15-20 years.
• This is followed by an active stage in which a rapid multiplication of viral particles is observed, which is accompanied by a mass death of liver cells. Sometimes such a course leads to a rapid development of liver cirrhosis. If this does not happen, the disease passes into the phase of inactive virus carrying - this is a transition to a chronic form of hepatitis.
• The stage of relative calm, in which the patient is only a carrier of the virus, can also last for several years. Active reproduction of virus particles is not observed.
• Despite the fact that during an inactive period there are no serious violations, the human body is weakened and more vulnerable to various infections. Infection of viruses, be it simple herpes or even a cold, can provoke a reactivation of the disease, more precisely, an exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B, at which the increased multiplication of viruses and the death of liver cells begin again.

What symptoms are accompanied by the disease?

The manifestations of the disease largely depend on the stage of its development and the degree of liver damage. How to determine hepatitis B? Symptoms that worsen patients in the first place are fast fatigue and constant weakness. As the disease develops, there are problems with sleep, as well as frequent migraines.

Pain in hepatitis is also present - they are localized in the zone of the right hypochondrium. Patients complain of dyspepsia, in particular, nausea, swelling, heaviness in the stomach, bitterness in the mouth, lack of appetite, dryness of the oral mucosa.

It is also possible the appearance of skin itching, redness and rash. Often a person has bleeding gums, minor hemorrhages under the skin, which occur even after a light stroke or pinch, as well as the appearance of so-called vascular asterisks.

Extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis

Chronic hepatitis B is a disease in which liver cells are destroyed. Violation of the normal functioning of this organ affects the work of the whole organism. For example, against the background of hepatitis, there are often strong changes in the level of hormones in the blood.

Persistent arterial hypertension, purpura, arthralgia, polyneuropathy can develop. In many patients, muscle, eye, endocrine glands are affected, which can be accompanied by amenorrhea, thyroid disease or even the onset of diabetes mellitus. To complications of hepatitis carry and malignant degeneration of cells.

Chronic hepatitis B: analysis and diagnosis

Certainly, for the decision of the exact diagnosis it is necessary to pass a number of inspections. First of all, a biochemical blood test is performed, which allows the doctor to judge the liver function. A special blood test for markers allows to confirm the presence of antibodies to the hepatitis virus in the patient's body.

The ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity organs is mandatory. It is a safe, painless and informative diagnostic method that allows to reveal changes in the size and structure of organs. Often patients are prescribed a liver biopsy. A laboratory study of liver tissue samples helps to determine the severity of the disease, the degree of its spread and even the expected outcome for the patient.

Treatment regimen for hepatitis

Therapy for this disease largely depends on its origin. For example, an autoimmune form of hepatitis is treated with corticosteroids. In the presence of a viral infection, the use of immunomodulators is important. These drugs inhibit the processes of reproduction of viruses. When the organism is strongly intoxicated, appropriate measures are taken to purify the body of toxic substances. It is also necessary to abandon potentially dangerous drugs and alcohol.

Further treatment is aimed at removing the load from the liver and gradually regaining its work. Therapy must necessarily be comprehensive. During the acute phase of the disease, bed rest and a minimum of physical activity are very important. For the patient make up the right diet, rich in proteins, minerals and vitamins. From the menu it is necessary to exclude sharp and salty dishes, preservation, fatty and fried foods, and also alcohol. To improve digestion, special enzyme preparations can be used that should not contain bile. If the patient suffers from constipation, the problem is solved with the help of soft laxatives. It is important to take medications - hepatoprotectors, which protect liver cells from harmful effects and contribute to tissue repair processes. Sometimes patients are additionally prescribed injections of B vitamins.

Chronic hepatitis B: how many live with it? Projections for patients

We have already considered questions about what provokes the development of this disease and what violations it accompanies. So how dangerous is chronic hepatitis B? How many patients live with him?

There is no clear answer to this question. Outcomes of chronic hepatitis B depend on its origin and severity of liver damage. For example, if the disease is caused by medication, you can almost completely restore the liver. Autoimmune hepatitis is also a good treatment. As for chronic viral hepatitis, there is a very high likelihood of complications in the future, including cirrhosis.

That's why people are advised to get vaccinated against hepatitis, avoid contact with the blood of infected people, use protective equipment during sexual intercourse. A healthy lifestyle is important not only for the prevention of infection - it should also be adhered to people who have already undergone hepatitis, since proper nutrition, therapeutic gymnastics, physical activity, proper sleep and rest regime reduces the likelihood of relapse.