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Hepatitis B is a liver disease which is generally chronic in nature and is most frequently experienced by the world community, including Indonesia. Quoted from the WHO website, even around 257 million people from all over the world are reported to be infected with hepatitis B. Given its long-term nature, can hepatitis B be completely cured? Find out the answer here.
Can hepatitis B be cured?
This liver disease is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The chances of curing hepatitis B actually depend on many things, one of which is the severity of the disease itself.
Hepatitis can be said to be an acute disease if the disease progresses quickly in a relatively short time. Acute infections can heal quickly in less than 6 months with proper treatment.
However, if it has developed slowly over a long period of time, chronic infections usually take longer to heal. The virus can stay in the body forever, even though the sufferer may not show any symptoms.
The good news is, there are several treatments that can be done to suppress the development of the virus in the body as well as relieve symptoms.
Hepatitis B treatment options
Treatment for hepatitis depends on the severity of the disease, age, and the patient's overall condition. In general, here are the treatment options for hepatitis B:
Acute hepatitis B
Acute hepatitis B usually lasts less than 6 months after a person is exposed to HBV. People with acute hepatitis B infection can get better on their own. Therefore, acute hepatitis B does not always require special care.
However, doctors will usually advise their patients to rest, drink plenty of fluids, and eat foods that are high in nutrition to help your body fight infection. You may be prescribed a pain reliever such as ibuprofen to help relieve symptoms.
People who are sick with acute hepatitis B are also advised to do regular medical check-ups. This is done to monitor the patient's overall condition and ensure that the patient does not develop chronic hepatitis B disease.
If left without proper treatment, acute hepatitis B can turn chronic.
Chronic hepatitis B
Chronic hepatitis B lasts six months or more. The younger you are when you are infected with HBV, the higher the risk of your infection developing chronic. Especially for newborns or toddlers.
If you are diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, your doctor will usually prescribe antiviral medication to prevent further damage to your liver. These anti-viral drugs usually have to be taken in the long term or even for life to suppress the growth of the virus that causes hepatitis B.
Some antiviral drugs such as adefovir (Hepsera), telbivudine (Tyzeka) and entecavir (baraclude) can help fight the virus and slow liver damage. Talk to your doctor about the right medication for you.
Chronic B infection can cause serious diseases such as cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer. If your liver is already badly damaged, a liver transplant may be the best option.
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