Hepatitis B

[johardue]

Doctors, what are the symptoms? You've said that at times there really isnt any so we can not tell unless we take some tests? Is that it?

 

Unfortunately, this is the usual scenario.

 

In majority of cases, infection is acquired around the time of birth or infancy. During this period, the body will not recognize the virus because the immune system is still immature, thus will do nothing about it for years. Sometime, nagiging active sila at dumadami and yet very minimal and non-specific nga ang symptoms as Angel said. Kadalasan di nanatin pinapansin.

 

To the lucky ones, no serious complications arise inspite years of infection.

 

To some specialy kung bumagsak yng resistensya, nagiging very active yng virus to the point na nagkakaroon ng significant symptoms like jaundice o paninilaw, among others, that leads then to consult.

To the REAL unlucky ones, the virus becomes active enough to cause repeated bouts ng inflammation o pagmamaga ng liver pero with relatively mild, non-specific symptoms through the years na di napapansin. This leads to scarring of the liver - cirrhosis which may lead to liver cancer. Some patients also may develop liver cancer without developing cirrhosis.

 

And so It would be ideal to have yourself screened for HBsAg even though wala ka nararamdaman, specialy if someone in your immediate family tested positive.

[pangcarshow]

tanong ko lang.. dba isa sa mga symptoms ng hepa ang yellowish na urine. anu un yellow parin ang urine mo khit na madami ka inom na water?

[johardue]

tanong ko lang.. dba isa sa mga symptoms ng hepa ang yellowish na urine. anu un yellow parin ang urine mo khit na madami ka inom na water?

 

Actually it's deep, deep yellow even brownish, tea-colored, or parang coke. When this happens, usually may yellowish tinge na rin skin at mata mo.

[Justiin13]

if you got the vaccine is it good for life na? naalala ko i got 3 shots pero it was way back

[angel_by_day]

if you got the vaccine is it good for life na? naalala ko i got 3 shots pero it was way back

 

nope. that's why you have to have booster doses, depending on your level of antibodies (have your anti-HBs levels checked).

[robrey]

Unfortunately, this is the usual scenario.

 

In majority of cases, infection is acquired around the time of birth or infancy. During this period, the body will not recognize the virus because the immune system is still immature, thus will do nothing about it for years. Sometime, nagiging active sila at dumadami and yet very minimal and non-specific nga ang symptoms as Angel said. Kadalasan di nanatin pinapansin.

 

To the lucky ones, no serious complications arise inspite years of infection.

 

To some specialy kung bumagsak yng resistensya, nagiging very active yng virus to the point na nagkakaroon ng significant symptoms like jaundice o paninilaw, among others, that leads then to consult.

To the REAL unlucky ones, the virus becomes active enough to cause repeated bouts ng inflammation o pagmamaga ng liver pero with relatively mild, non-specific symptoms through the years na di napapansin. This leads to scarring of the liver - cirrhosis which may lead to liver cancer. Some patients also may develop liver cancer without developing cirrhosis.

 

And so It would be ideal to have yourself screened for HBsAg even though wala ka nararamdaman, specialy if someone in your immediate family tested positive.

 

Pag nag positive ba sa HBsAg puede pa magpa vaccine?

[angel_by_day]

Pag nag positive ba sa HBsAg puede pa magpa vaccine?

 

nope. You can't be vaccinated with Hepa B vacc. anymore, since you have the virus already (active or not). Hepa A, yes (dapat, actually).

[male_spud]

Pag nag positive ba sa HBsAg puede pa magpa vaccine?

 

tama si angel... once you've got the virus useless na ang vaccination... you can only pray that you are one of the lucky few who will combat the virus and develop immunity. Most of the time though the hepatitis B virus becomes "dormant" and like AIDS, will just continue to replicate in your body until the viral load is so high and then you get all the bad effects... starting from fatty liver, then liver cirrhosis, then liver cancer.

 

Is there a treatment? Right now, there is no 100% effective treatment for hepatitis B. A lot of advances have been made in antiviral therapy but these are expensive and usually long-term (the shortest span for treatment will be a year, newer drugs have to be taken continously); plus these anti-virals will only be useful for a handful of people, depending on the status of their Hepatitis B infection...

 

Kinda complex right?

 

The best thing to do is still and shall always be prevention... check your HbsAg and Anti-HBs level, get immunized/vaccinated if you don't have the infection and still don't have antibodies and practice safe sex. True, maternal-fetal transmission of Hepatitis B is still the number one source of Hepatitis B in the philippines, but also remember that is more likely to contract Hepatitis B from casual sex rather than getting HIV/AIDS.

 

Keep healthy!

[loverbhoy]

HbsAg and Anti-HBs level - gaano ba kataas para maging concern ka?

 

I remember Lolo ko lakas umiinom he died when I was 10 yrs old,tapos sabi nang mother ko meron siyang liver cancer dahil nagka scarring ang liver niya?

Yon bang alak major cause ba nang HEPA? or kailangan mag-LIVER aide ako para di magka-hepa?

 

pls. enlighten us Docs..

[angel_by_day]

HbsAg and Anti-HBs level - gaano ba kataas para maging concern ka?

 

if you test positive for HBsAg....automatically, we test you for the presence of the other antigen, the "e" antigen (HBeAg)...to determine if the virus is active or not.

 

I remember Lolo ko lakas umiinom he died when I was 10 yrs old,tapos sabi nang mother ko meron siyang liver cancer dahil nagka scarring ang liver niya?

Yon bang alak major cause ba nang HEPA? or kailangan mag-LIVER aide ako para di magka-hepa?

pls. enlighten us Docs..

 

heavy and prolonged alcohol intake can lead to liver cirrhosis (yung scarring na sinasabi mo), and eventually liver cancer. On the other hand, the hepatitis virus is an independent cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (most common form of liver cancer). Meaning, the virus itself can lead to liver cancer, regardless of your alcohol intake (but obviously, worse when coupled with heavy drinking). Chronic hepatitis B usually progresses to liver cirrhosis first, before ending up with liver cancer. Chronic hepatitis C can, however, proceed to liver cancer directly, without passing thru the cirrhotic stage.

 

About the supplement, they can and will not prevent the virus from entering your body, or the alcohol from destroying your liver, if the risk factor is there. Eh shempre, kung super dami ka uminom, kahit sangkatutak na liveraide pa, masisira at masisira pa rin atay mo...

Edited November 7, 2007 by angel_by_day

[pancreas]

the Hep B vaccine is a 0,1,6 regimen. What if I miss the 6th month dose?

[angel_by_day]

the Hep B vaccine is a 0,1,6 regimen. What if I miss the 6th month dose?

 

Im not sure if it would provide you with sufficient antibodies.

 

 

asan na ba si johardue...

[Burger]

Are infected persons contagious?

 

When people first get hepatitis B, they are contagious for several weeks before they get symptoms and for the whole time that they feel sick, which is 1-2 months. People who do not clear the virus (5-10% of the people who get hepatitis are contagious for the rest of their lives.

 

http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/acd/diseases/hepb/facts.shtml

 

Is it correct to say that 90% of the people that are infected of Hepatitis B are able to flush the virus out? and not have a chronic infection and not contagious?

 

Or the medical test will still be able to detect the infection even thought the body is able to flush it out?

 

What are the implication of a person who has resisted or who are not contagious (90% of the infected)? Do the blood test detect this and cause for concern for people who are planning to go overseas?

[johardue]

the Hep B vaccine is a 0,1,6 regimen. What if I miss the 6th month dose?

 

When was your last dose?

 

The best thing to do would be to have anti-HBs titer done. If the levels are not significant have a booster dose.

 

By the way, did you have HBsAg screening done before? Kung hindi pa, I suggest you have it done before considering having a booster. Hepa B vaccine is useless if your HBsAg positive

[johardue]

Im not sure if it would provide you with sufficient antibodies.

 

 

asan na ba si johardue...

 

Sorry Angel. Hibernate mode ako

 

Natahimik din kasi yung thread kaya madalang ako naka-visit