How to Treat Hepatitis B

The hepatitis B virus causes liver inflammation and, in 5 to 10 percent of infected people, chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and possibly liver cancer. Symptoms include nausea, fever, appetite loss, stomach pains, fatigue, jaundice (yellowed eyes and skin) and dark urine.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• High-protein Snacks

1. Consider a post-exposure antibody injection. This treatment is most effective within three days of exposure.

2. Get ample rest.

3. Eat a diet high in proteins and carbohydrates to help protect your liver and repair damaged cells.

4. Ask your physician about alpha-interferons or nucleoside analogues, which can be used to treat hepatitis B. Not all people respond successfully to the treatments, however.

5. Take annual liver function and cancer screening tests if you are a carrier.

6. Limit or avoid alcohol if you are a carrier, as it can harm your liver.

7. Take drugs only under a physician's direction and supervision if you are a carrier, since drugs can also damage the liver.

Tips & Warnings

• About 90 percent of adults clear the virus from their systems and recover completely in a few months. Others are symptom-free but still carry the virus in their blood. These carriers usually lead healthy lives but are capable of infecting others.

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[bethany1202]

on 9/26/2009 Great info about HBV. 5* and rec

[bethany1202]

on 9/26/2009 Great info about HBV. 5* and rec