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- Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis B is a specific type of hepatitis.
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- First phase (lasts 2-3
weeks):
- Fatigue
- Not "feeling well"
- Loss of appetite
- Nasal discharge
- Sore throat
- Skin rashes (urticaria)
- Joint pain
- Fever or chills
- Nausea/vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea or Constipation
- Second ("icteric") phase (occurs
5-10 days after first phase):
- Yellow skin or eyes
- Usually the earlier symptoms improve
- Infants and young children my not become
"icteric"
- Third (convalescent) phase: Continued steady improvement
- Chronic persistent
hepatitis:
- May have no symptoms
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Chronic active hepatitis:
- May have no symptoms
- Fatigue
- Yellow skin or yellow eyes may be present
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- It is caused by the hepatitis B
virus:
- Hepatitis B is usually transmitted by blood products or sexually
- Hepatitis B can cause an acute infection or a chronic (persistent) infection.
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- Skin -- yellow skin or eyes
- Liver tenderness
- Spleen tenderness
- Elevated AST, ALT, and Total bilirubin
- Hepatitis B antibody testing to
confirm diagnosis:
- Acute: positive HBsAg, HbeAg, Anti-HBc IgM
- Chronic persistent: positive HBsAg, positive Anti-Hbe IgG
- Chronic active hepatitis: positive HBsAg, Anti HBc IgG
(& low levels IgM), HbeAg
- Liver biopsy to diagnose chronic forms
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- Infants of mothers with Hepatitis B
- Patients and workers in hemodialysis or oncology units
- Patients requiring frequent blood transfusions
- Patients with Down Syndrome
- Household contacts of HBsAg carriers
- Homosexuals
- Intravenous drug abusers
- Medical professionals
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- Rest, hydration, and adequate nutrition
- Acute hepatitis: Avoid Tylenol and alcoholic beverages. Bedrest as needed. No medical treatment.
- Chronic active hepatitis:
- Alpha-Interferon
- Lamivudine
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- Infection with Delta agent. This is a secondary agent on top of the infection with Hepatitis B. It can make the infection much more severe. Diagnosis is made by checking for anti-HDV in the blood.
- Hepatocellular (liver) cancer -- persons who have been infected with Hepatitis B are at much higher risk of developing liver cancer.
- Liver cirrhosis
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- 10% of hepatitis B becomes chronicHepatitis and can lead to permanent liver cirrhosis or liver cancer
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- If your child has any of following
symptoms, he/she needs hospitalization.
- Severe vomiting and Dehydration
- Bleeding problems
- Suspected brain dysfunction
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- Hepatitis B Vaccine now exists. It is routinely given to all neonates, infants, and all unvaccinated adolescents.
- Hepatitis B immune globulin after exposure to HBV infection (e.g., infants of mothers with hepatitis B)
- Universal Blood Precautions:
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