Chronic Hepatitis B

Hepatitis is the "inflammation of the liver". Hepatities B virus (HBV) causes Hepatitis B. Most people with acute hepatities B recover fully.

However, in about 5 percent of adults, the HBV remains in the liver and multiplies for years. This longstanding infection is referred to as chronic hepatities and often found in people who acquire HBV at an early age, such as birth. It is common in Southeast Asia, China and Africa where as many as 1 in 10 people have chronic infection.

It is estimated that there are more than 300 million HBV carriers in the world, of whom over 500, 000 die annually from HBV-related liver disease.

Chronic Hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis (irreversible and potentially fatal liver scarring), primary liver cancer or death. Chronic hepatitis B may be a "silent" in most patients. Even though you may not feel sick, the presence of the HBV in your body means that the virus can continue to multiply and injure your liver.

While there's no immediate cure for Chronic hepatitis B, there are approved treatments that can slow down or stop HBV reproduction. The treatment can result in patients feeling better within a month or two because the virus is slowed down or even reversed in some cases.

With appropriate treatment, people chronically infected by HBV can still expect to live long and healthy lives.

Oral Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis B

An experienced gastroenterologist can help reverse Chronic Hepatitis B. Among the number of treatments available for Chronic Hepatitis B, Raffles Hospital has introduced the use of Entacavir, a prescription medicine, to treat Chronic Hepatitis B in adults with active hepatitis and potential liver damage.

View Article As Advertise in Borneo Bulletin 18/01/2008