Q&A

Can hepatitis B cause stomach problems?

Can hepatitis B cause stomach problems?

According to experts, hepatitis B rarely causes abdominal pain.

How do I know if my hepatitis B is chronic?

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.

Can hepatitis cause stomach problems?

Most of the millions of people who live with hepatitis C don’t have any signs or symptoms of the liver disease, but some will experience stomach pain, nausea, loss of appetite, irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal woes.

Can hepatitis B cause chronic disease?

For many people, hepatitis B is a short-term illness. For others, it can become a long-term, chronic infection that can lead to serious, even life-threatening health issues like cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Can chronic hepatitis B go away?

In most cases, hepatitis B goes away on its own. You can relieve your symptoms at home by resting, eating healthy foods, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding alcohol and drugs. Also, find out from your doctor what medicines and herbal products to avoid, because some can make liver damage caused by hepatitis B worse.

How does hepatitis B affect your body?

Chronic hepatitis B can develop into a serious disease resulting in long-term health problems, including liver damage, liver failure, liver cancer, and even death. There were 1,649 deaths related to hepatitis B virus reported to CDC in 2018, but this is an underestimate.

What can hepatitis be mistaken for?

In North America, the first three are most common. Hepatitis A (HAV) spreads when a person ingests food or beverages, including water, contaminated with stool containing the virus. Symptoms of infection are usually mild and can be mistaken for the flu – fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and loss of appetite.

Can chronic hepatitis B be cured?

Most adults with hepatitis B recover fully, even if their signs and symptoms are severe. Infants and children are more likely to develop a chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis B infection. A vaccine can prevent hepatitis B, but there’s no cure if you have the condition.

How long do chronic hepatitis B patients live?

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.

Can chronic hepatitis B positive became negative?

Your test results may not mean you have a problem. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you. Normal results are negative or nonreactive, meaning that no hepatitis B surface antigen was found. If your test is positive or reactive, it may mean you are actively infected with HBV.

Can a person with Chronic Hep B have symptoms?

Many people with chronic hepatitis B do not experience symptoms unless the liver becomes severely damaged. Some people with chronic hepatitis B experience occasional symptoms, while others experience symptoms that never seem to go away. Symptoms of chronic hepatitis B can include those typically seen in acute hepatitis B.

What happens to the liver when you have hepatitis B?

Hepatitis is a redness and swelling (inflammation) of the liver. It sometimes causes permanent liver damage. There are several types of hepatitis. In hepatitis B, the liver is infected with the hepatitis B virus. This causes inflammation. The liver isn’t able to work the way it should.

When to see a doctor for hepatitis B?

If you think you have signs or symptoms of hepatitis B, contact your doctor. Hepatitis B infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The virus is passed from person to person through blood, semen or other body fluids.

How long does it take to recover from Hep B?

Acute hepatitis B infection lasts less than six months. Your immune system likely can clear acute hepatitis B from your body, and you should recover completely within a few months. Most people who get hepatitis B as adults have an acute infection, but it can lead to chronic infection.