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Vaccination against hepatitis B is a common suggestion – but what exactly does it prevent?
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Hepatitis B is considered severe Viral infection According to the Cleveland Clinic, this causes liver inflammation and is the most common liver infection in the world.
Hepatitis A outbreak infects thousands of travelers in epidemic destinations
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 254 million people worldwide suffer from infections.
The infection can be brief, called acute hepatitis B, or it can be a long-term chronic form that can lead to complications such as cirrhosis (hepatic scars) and liver failure.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation. (iStock)
What causes the infection?
Hepatitis B is triggered by exposure to body fluids Infection with virusincluding amniotic fluid, blood, menstrual fluid, saliva and other secretions.
Exposure can occur through unprotected gender, shared needles or syringes or contaminated medical tools. It can also be passed from pregnant women to her newborn during childbirth, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Anyone can contract hepatitis B, but Sexually transmitted infectionstaking immunosuppressants (such as chemotherapy), and being under dialysis or other types of liver disease are at increased risk.
Symptoms of hepatitis B may include abdominal pain, fatigue, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and weakness. (iStock)
Symptoms of Hepatitis C
Although viral infections don’t cause symptoms to everyone, some of the most common signs include stomach achefatigue, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and weakness, Cleveland Clinic State.
Other symptoms of liver disease may include dark urine, light or clay-colored stools, skin and whiteness of the eyes (also known as jaundice), and swelling of fluid in the abdomen, arms and legs.
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As long as the virus is active in the body, a person is infectious.
Acute hepatitis B can last for six months. The risk of infectious hepatitis B is low, while active chronic hepatitis B is indefinitely contagious.
Both acute and chronic hepatitis B cause a variety of complications, including acute and chronic liver failure, cirrhosis, hepatitis D and Liver cancerexperts warn.
Blood tests can diagnose hepatitis C, or reveal whether it is active or inactive. (iStock)
Diagnosis, treatment and prevention
Hepatitis C can be diagnosed by blood tests, imaging tests (such as elastography of liver tissue), or liver biopsy. According to the Cleveland Clinic, blood tests can reveal whether the virus is active or inactive.
Hepatitis C cannot be cured, but certain drugs (such as antiviral drugs) can make the virus inactive. In chronic cases, These drugs Must be taken indefinitely.
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If an infection causes cancer, surgery may be a treatment option for removing some of the liver. If the entire liver must be removed, a transplant may also be required.
The best way to prevent hepatitis B infection is Passed vaccinationaccording to medical experts.
According to medical experts, the best way to prevent hepatitis C is through vaccination. (iStock)
The CDC recommends that all infants be vaccinated with hepatitis C, with risk factors for adults aged 19 to 59 and children over 60. There are a variety of hepatitis C vaccines, requiring various doses.
Cleveland Clinic encourages people with hepatitis B Avoid alcoholEat well, protect yourself from other liver infections, and seek support as needed.
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“If the tests indicate you have hepatitis B, you may wonder how the disease will change your life. You may be worried about spreading the virus to others,” the organization wrote on its website.
“The good news is that there are some medications that can prevent the spread of chronic hepatitis B. There are some steps you can take to protect your Overall health And protect others. ”
