Institute of Liver, Pancreas Diseases& Organ Transplantation

Know the facts...

Hepatitis-B

Global Hospitals6-1-1070/1to4, Lakdi-ka-pul,Hyderabad - 500 004.Ph: +91 40 2324 4444 (10 lines)

Aware Global HospitalsSagar Road, L.B.Nagar,Hyderabad - 500 035,Ph: +91 40 2411 11

Hyderabad | Chennai | Bengaluru | Mumbai

Emergency: 040 2324 4444

What is the best way to stop the spread of Hepatitis B?

HEPATITIS B – FACTS AT A GLANCE

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Hepatitis B vaccination in the most effective way to

prevent infection. The hepatitis B vaccine is given in 3

doses over a period of six months. After the vaccination

course is completed it is important to do a blood test to

check whether the vaccine is working or not. This form of

blood test detects the level of protective antibodies in the

blood. Ideally all children should be vaccinated at birth.

However, vaccine can be taken by people of age groups.

Your doctor may advise some tests before you take the

vaccine to determine whether you may be already

infected with hepatitis B or may have protective

antibodies.

Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B

virus (HBV).

Adults get Hepatitis B through infected blood

transfusion, contaminated needles and sexual

transmission from a hepatitis B infected partner.

Children usually get Hepatitis B from their mother

during childbirth.

About 1 in 20 Indians have been infected with

Hepatitis B.

Most people with Hepatitis B have no symptoms.

Hepatitis B can be easily diagnosed by a simple

blood test.

There are effective medications to treat Hepatitis B.

Untreated Hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis (scarring)

of the liver, liver cancer, and liver failure.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent HBV.

Specialties:

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Liver Diseases Neurosciences Medical Gastroenterology Therapeutic Endoscopy Bariatric Surgery

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Hepatobiliary SurgeryOncology Critical Care Minimal Access Surgery

And other services

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Cardiac Sciences Multiorgan Transplantation Surgical Gastroenterology Endocrinology Pancreatology

Prof. Mohammed Rela, MBBS, MS, FRCS (Edinburgh)Head of Multi-organ Transplantation and HPB SurgeryGlobal Hospitals Group

THE HYDERABAD TEAMDr. Dharmesh Kapoor ( )Dr. Balbir Singh (Transplant and HPB Surgeon)

Transplant Hepatologist

www.globalhospitalsindia.com

Why is the liver important?

What is Hepatitis B ?

Who is at risk of having Hepatitis B?

The liver is the largest internal organ in your body and is

located under your rib cage on the right side. The liver

has a lot of vital functions. It produces bile, a mixture of

chemicals, which helps in digestion. It helps in breaking

down food to turn it into energy. It also removes harmful

substances from your blood and helps in fighting

infection. It makes chemicals that are important for

blood clotting. It stores iron, vitamins and other

essential substances. The liver is necessary for survival

and there is currently no way to compensate for the

absence of the liver.

Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B

virus (HBV). Hepatitis B causes inflammation and

swelling of the liver (acute hepatitis) and prevents it from

working well. Women who have Hepatitis B infection

usually transmit the infection to the newborn children.

These children usually continue to have the infection

throughout their life. When adults get infection, most of

them (95%) fully recover within six months. However,

about 5% continue to have infection throughout their life

(chronic HBV). Chronic HBV can lead to cirrhosis

(scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, and liver failure.

Hepatitis B is very common in India. About 3 - 5 percent

of all Indians have chronic hepatitis B infection. Certain

practices like reuse of needles and syringes in hospitals

and clinics in the past, tattooing using unclean and

contaminated needles,

unregulated and unsafe

blood transfusion has

increased the r isk of

transmission of hepatitis B

in our countries. In view of

the high prevalence of

hepat i t is B, everyone

should get tested for

hepatitis B.

What are the long term consequences of

Hepatitis B?

What are symptoms of Hepatitis B?

How is Hepatitis B diagnosed?

Hepatitis B damages the liver slowly over a period of 20-

30 years. About 20 percent of patients with untreated

hepatitis B progress to liver cirrhosis which is scarring of

the liver. Once cirrhosis develops patients are at a risk of

developing liver failure. Five to 10 percent of these

patients develop liver cancer.

Patients during the early phase

of infection have no symptoms

and feel absolutely healthy.

When the disease progresses

and patient develops liver

cirrhosis, symptoms occur such

as tiredness, nausea, loss of

appetite, skin itching, dark urine,

and jaundice (yellowing of the

skin and eyes). Once liver failure

develops, patients develop

swelling of the legs (edema), fluid in the abdomen

(ascites), vomiting of blood, and mental confusion.

These symptoms are not specific to hepatitis B and can

occur with most other forms of liver disease.

Hepatitis B is easily diagnosed by simple blood tests. A

blood test can determine whether a person is infected

or not. It is also possible to know the amount of hepatitis

virus in the blood. In patients who are not infected with

hepatitis B, it is possible to know whether they have

enough immunity (protection) and will not develop

hepatitis B in the future.

What should you do if you are diagnosed to have

Hepatitis B ?

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How is hepatitis B treated?

Are patients with Hepatitis B risk of developing

liver cancer

Eat healthy meals

Exercise and try to lose weight if you are overweight

See a liver doctor regularly

Take only the medications recommended by your

doctor

Avoid alcohol completely

Talk to your doctor about treatments for Hepatitis B

Ask all your family members including spouse,

siblings and children to get tested for Hepatitis B

If you have HBV, it is important to talk to your doctor

about treatment options. Most patients who develop

acute hepatitis B infection recover on their own. Your

doctor will recommend bed rest, drinking lots of fluids,

eating a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol. Patients with

chronic hepatitis B infection and those with hepatitis B

related cirrhosis need specific medicines which act

against the hepatitis B virus. Some commonly used

medicines are Interferon injections, Entecavir and

Tenofovir.

One in 20 people with hepatitis B will develop liver

cancer. The risk is more in patients with chronic

hepatitis B and cirrhosis. Risk also depends on the

amount of virus in the blood. Patients with chronic

hepat i t i s B shou ld

regularly do ultrasound

scans to detect small

liver cancers at any early

stage. Small cancers can

be effectively treated.

A Healthy Liver… A Healthy Life…