In the first part of this piece Read [ Managing hepatitis B virus 1], I
narrated the story of Mr. A.O. who declared that he was cure of
hepatitis B virus disease. This has generated a lot of feedbacks from
readers, some of whom called to say they have been infected, and would
like to know the cure for hepatitis.
If you are newly diagnosed as having a
hepatitis B infection, you will be advised to have regular blood tests
and physical check-ups.
Once your symptoms get better, you will
need further testing to check that you are free of the virus and have
not developed chronic hepatitis B.
Those with chronic hepatitis will need
regular blood tests to assess the state of their liver, an ultrasound or
a Fibroscan, which measures liver stiffness, and possibly a liver
biopsy. This is to assess whether the virus is currently damaging the
liver and how much damage has been done.
Treatment
There are now very effective medications
that can suppress the virus for many years in the life of the patient.
The drugs can slow down the damage being done to the liver, allowing the
body to repair itself. However, it is unusual for this treatment to
clear the virus permanently.
Continue reading after the cut.....
If you have chronic hepatitis B, you will
be symptom-free for much of the time. However, many patients may need
to take medications to prevent liver damage, possibly for many years.
The treatments for acute and chronic infections are considered
separately.
Treatment of acute hepatitis B virus is
supportive in most cases, consisting of bed rest, nutritional support
and symptomatic management such as simple analgesia and anti-nausea
medications.
The treatment of chronic HBV can be life-long and it is explained below:
General (lifestyle modification):
Alcohol consumption should be discontinued, cigarette smokers should be
advised to quit, while physical exercise and weight reduction with
sound nutritional advice are ideal.
Eat plenty of vegetables, legumes and
fruits. Eat plenty of cereals, preferably whole grain, lean meat, fish,
poultry, milk, yoghurt, cheese and regularly drinking water.
Avoid spoilt groundnuts! Groundnuts that
are not properly stored and preserved contain toxins (aflatoxin) that
are poisonous to the liver.
Vaccination: The
diagnosis of hepatitis B is also an opportunity to prevent its spread
through vaccination. The standard regime is at three doses at between
zero and six months respectively. Post-vaccine laboratory test is
required to be sure the person is fully immune.
For the person who has already acquired
hepatitis B, it is too late to vaccinate against the virus, but further
liver injury by another virus – hepatitis A – can be prevented via
vaccination.
Sexual partners of HBV-positive persons
should be counselled to protect themselves from sexual exposure to
infectious body fluids such as semen and vaginal secretions, by using
condom; or by receiving full immunisation against hepatitis B virus.
Pregnancy and hepatitis B virus:
All pregnant women should be tested for hepatitis B virus! If you are
pregnant, be sure your doctor tests you for HBV before your baby is
born. This is because if you test positive for hepatitis B and are
pregnant, the virus can be passed on to your newborn baby during
delivery.
It is important for your doctor to be
aware of your hepatitis B infection so that she/he can monitor your
health and so your baby can be protected from an infection after
delivery.
Newborn treatment: Up to
90 per cent of infants born to HBeAg-positive mothers acquire the
infection if untreated. The concurrent administration of two injectables
hepatitis B immunoglobulin and the hepatitis B vaccine to the newborn
immediately after birth is effective in preventing vertical transmission
of the virus.
If the neonate has taken the two
injectables, the mother with HBV infection can breastfeed the neonate
safely because there is no increased risk of transmission.
Children born to HBV-positive mothers
should be assessed for their hepatitis B status after the completion of
the course of vaccination.
Medication: The
treatment may be appropriate in some patients. It is very rare that
anti-viral drug treatment will lead to a cure for HBV infection – i.e.
it is treatable but not curable.
The long-term aim of treatment is to
arrest or reverse the progression of liver damage, with the ultimate
goal of preventing cirrhosis, cancer of the liver and liver failure.
The medication used to treat chronic
hepatitis B will depend on whether there is evidence of ongoing liver
damage. In some patients, their immune system suppresses the virus
without causing damage.
In some cases, treatment works well and
it is possible for your immune system to regain control over hepatitis
B. In this case, your doctor may advise you to stop taking medications
altogether.
In conclusion, No cure has been found for
hepatitis B virus yet; however, there are drugs, antiviral, interferon
and some other drugs still undergoing clinical trials which help those
infected to live healthy life.
Yesterday, July 28th, was World Hepatitis
Day. The Strategic Health Insight, in marking this year’s occasion, has
announced a one-day free seminar for the public, entitled, “Hepatitis B
Virus is closer than you think.”
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2015. Please, call 08188343865, 08186549147 or visit www.the-hospitals.com for details.
Concluded!
- Dr Rotimi Adesanya
Share your thoughts....thanks!
My name is Amelia, I want to use this medium to thank Dr. Iyabiye, for saving me from CHRONIC HEPATITIS B. I suffered this ailment for 3 years, then this fateful day browsing through the internet to see if I could get help, I saw his contact and testimonies of others he has cured. I contacted him for help, and afterwards he administered his medication on me, I was confirmed cured and hepatitis free at the hospital after the treatment. You too can be cured like me if interested, reach him through his contacts: (+2348072229413 or +2348158577300) email: (iyabiyehealinghome@gmail.com)
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