A 30-year-old member asked:
what could be the cause of chronic hepatitis b?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Arthur Heller answered
Gastroenterology 43 years experience
Virus at early age: Hep b: common (world-wide) viral infection, commonly obtained at birth from mom who is chronic carrier (probably got it at birth from her mother). Adult onset (usually blood transmission, less likely sexual): better chance of being only acute, not chronic. "dose" of exposure, genotype, immune response all play a role. Can rx. Chr inf can lead to more liver problems, incl. Cirrhosis, failure, ca.
5630 viewsReviewed Sep 6, 2019
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Similar questions
CA
A 34-year-old member asked:
Are there any approved drugs to treat chronic hepatitis b?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Katharine Garnier answered
Family Medicine 33 years experience
Yes, but....: There are drugs used to treat chronic hepatitis b infections, but not everyone needs, or should, be on them. This is too complicated to fully discuss on this board, you need to see a liver specialist, or infectious disease specialist, to review your individual situation, and then make appropriate recommendations.
6060 viewsReviewed Jul 1, 2019
A 34-year-old member asked:
Is there a cure for chronic hepatitis b?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Arthur Heller answered
Gastroenterology 43 years experience
Yes and no: Most adult onset cases are acute and never become chronic ("get it, got it, had it"). Patients have essentially cleared infection , and remain immune.
95% of infections at birth (endemic regions for chronic carriers, e.g. Far east, africa, middle east) become and stay chronic.
Depending on genotype, viral load, other factors patients may have better responses to meds to decrease, if not clear inf.
6114 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
CA
A 16-year-old member asked:
What is the difference between acute and chronic hepatitis b?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Jeffrey Crespin answered
Gastroenterology 28 years experience
Time course: One has to have acute hepatitis b before it becomes chronic hepatitis b. Fifty percent of patients that have acute hepatitis b clear the virus in 1 years time. However, if after 1 year, the virus is still present, then it is considered to be chronic. There are no fda approved medications for acute hepatitis b, but there are several fda approved medications for chronic hepatitis b.
6120 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
What tests will be used to monitor my chronic hepatitis b?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Vivek Huilgol answered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Lab +/- biopsy: Lab tests - e.g. Viral load (hbv dna), transaminases (alt< AST measures of inflammation) and products of liver function (protime, albumin, bilirubinn) amy be used. It depends on stage and treatmetn plan. In certian circumstances, sequential livver biopsies may be necessary.
See a hepatologist (liver specialist) or a GI md who is a member of aasld (google it...).
6142 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Fort Lauderdale, FL
A 30-year-old female asked:
What are the symptoms of chronic hepatitis b?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Steven Saunders answered
Internal Medicine 43 years experience
Chronic Hepatitis B: No symptoms necessarily associated. Perhaps fatigue and if progression to cirrhosis may result in easy bleeding, jaundice, abdominal distension.
5860 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Sep 12, 2019
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