health sectionhealth sectionThe treatment of hepatitis B can be complicated, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that infected people should see doctors who are experienced in the management of the disease. Treatment depends on a number of factors, including how advanced disease of the liver is, and treatment options will therefore vary between individuals.
Chronic hepatitis is a rare form of hepatitis that can persist for years or decades. It is generally a milder form of hepatitis. Treatment for chronic hepatitis can range from prescriptions to lifestyle changes to herbal treatments. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, hepatitis patients who do not respond to conventional drug therapy, cannot tolerate side effects or want to strengthen their immune systems may try these products.
Hepatitis is a condition when the liver becomes injured or damaged, usually by one of the many hepatitis viruses. While there are a few other reasons hepatitis can occur, the type of damage falls into two categories--acute (sudden) damage or chronic (long-lasting or recurring) damage.
Chronic hepatitis is the persistent and frequent swelling of the liver. It can cause cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure and even death in some circumstances. Chronic hepatitis usually develops slowly and is the result of the autoimmune system attacking itself. Chronic hepatitis is usually a mild progression of the disease. But over time it can shut the liver down completely. In some cases, a liver transplant may be warranted.
Chronic hepatitis B is a serious infection of the liver that is caused by contact with a virus known as HBV. The virus is normally contracted through contact with an infected individual's body fluids from sexual activity or using the same needle during intravenous drug use. It can result in severe liver damage, such as cancer, cirrhosis, and liver failure. Symptoms include nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, fatigue, and a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes called jaundice. Treatment options are limited, but can be effective.
Although you may develop chronic hepatitis B if you were infected with the virus at birth, you can also develop a chronic infection if you were first infected as an adult. Chronic hepatitis B does not cause symptoms in all people, and you may not even know you have the virus; however, up to 25 percent of those with chronic infections will experience serious health effects. According to the Centers for Disease Control and the American Liver Foundation, symptoms of chronic hepatitis B infections include liver damage and cancer.
