Can hepatitis B cause hypertension?
When this portal system is blocked, blood can’t return to the liver from the digestive system and pressure increases, creating a condition called portal hypertension. 6 This is a serious complication and can be fatal.
What are the complications of chronic hepatitis B?
Having a chronic HBV infection can lead to serious complications, such as: Scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). The inflammation associated with a hepatitis B infection can lead to extensive liver scarring (cirrhosis), which may impair the liver’s ability to function. Liver cancer.
How long can you live with chronic hepatitis B?
The estimated carrier life expectancy is 71.8 years, as compared to 76.2 years among noncarriers (Figure 5). These results are consistent with other estimates, which indicate that 15% to 40% of HBV carriers die of liver complications.
What is chronic HBV infection?
People who test positive for the hepatitis B virus for more than six months (after their first blood test result) are diagnosed as having a chronic infection. This means their immune system was not able to get rid of the hepatitis B virus and it still remains in their blood and liver.
How is hepatitis B prevented?
The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to be fully vaccinated. The World Health Organization recommends vaccinating babies within 24 hours of birth, followed by 2 to 3 additional doses within 6 months.
What is the treatment of hepatitis B positive?
Treatment for chronic hepatitis B may include: Antiviral medications. Several antiviral medications — including entecavir (Baraclude), tenofovir (Viread), lamivudine (Epivir), adefovir (Hepsera) and telbivudine (Tyzeka) — can help fight the virus and slow its ability to damage your liver.
Can chronic hepatitis B go away?
There’s no cure for hepatitis B. The good news is it usually goes away by itself in 4 to 8 weeks. More than 9 out of 10 adults who get hepatitis B totally recover. However, about 1 in 20 people who get hepatitis B as adults become “carriers,” which means they have a chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis B infection.
Can chronic hepatitis B be cured?
Currently there is no complete cure for chronic hepatitis B. However, several effective treatment options can reduce the risk of liver damage and slow down or stop the virus from spreading.