What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is an infectious disease of liver which is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Types of hepatitis viruses are Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E.
Causes of hepatitis B
HBV can enter through any above mediums; reach to its destination “liver”. Can develop the disease by multiplying in the liver and spread throughout into the blood stream.
Hepatitis B does not spread by touching an infected person, or by cough, sneeze, urine, stool, sweat.
- Contaminated water- Water if consumed from an unhygienic place where the chance of growing virus is more.
- Blood transfusion- If blood transfused is of an infected person lead to this condition.
- Sexual intercourse- This is one of the routes of transmission of the disease.
- From mother to child during childbirth- Mother suffering with Hepatitis B can pass her disease to her newborn.
- Injections- Used syringes of an infected person if given to a healthy individual spread this disease.
- Tattooing can spread the disease.
Symptoms of Hepatitis B
1. Mild fever- There will be mild fever present always in this condition.
2. Malaise- Tiredness, weakness, pain in the body.
3. Loss of appetite- People suffering with hepatitis B usually do not feel like to eat anything. There is loss of appetite.
4. Nausea and vomiting- Feeling/sensation of vomiting with any attempt to eat food or smell food items. There is vomiting associated with it.
5. Abdominal pain with diarrhoea or constipation.
6. Dark yellow coloured urine- There is dark yellow coloured urine without any burning or itching.
7. Light coloured stool- Stool will appear light in colour.
8. Yellow coloured eyes (sclera).
9. Mild headaches- Mild headache accompanying throughout the day.
10. Pale/yellow coloured skin.
Complications of Hepatitis B
If the disease becomes chronic then there can be complications associated with it.
There can be liver diseases (cirrhosis of liver), liver failure, and liver cancer.
Diagnosis of Hepatitis B
A simple blood test (HBsAg) can detect the presence of virus in the body with in 4 weeks of duration and the usual range is 1-9 weeks, after that the test becomes negative in many individuals.
Conventional treatment of Hepatitis B
In an acute case, rest and proper balanced diet is recommended.
If the case is chronic can start with the medications which include:
- Antiviral medications- like Adefovir, entecavir, lamivudine etc.
- If liver is damaged, liver transplant is recommended.
Homeopathic treatment for Hepatitis B
Homeopathic medications can help arrest further growth of the disease and thus prevents the complications of Hepatitis B such as cirrhosis of liver, liver failure and liver cancer.
Symptoms associated with this disease like nausea and vomiting, headaches, loss of appetite, mild fever, weakness etc. can be controlled and normalcy can be attained.
As homeopathic medications have no side-effects so it is safe to use for longer duration in chronic cases.
