The virus that causes hepatitis B (VHB) is known as hepatitis B virale. This is a potentially serious illness that may be acute (short-lived) or develop into a chronic form with problems.
What are the many viral hepatitis types?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. They most frequently have a viral origin, although they can also be brought on by alcohol, drugs, plants, or chemical products. The many viral hepatitis types are identified by an alphabetical letter according to the virus that caused them: A, B, C, D, and E. They can be divided into three categories based on how they are contaminated:
- hepatitis of dietary origin: hepatitis A and E;
- hepatitis transmitted by the blood and sexual relations: hepatitis B and D;
- hepatitis transmitted by the blood: hepatitis C. In some situations, it may be expressed during sexual relationships where there is saignment.
Is hepatitis B a common disease?
In the world, it is estimated that 2.5 billion people are infected or have been infected by the hepatitis B virus, which is one out of three people! Hepatitis B is the most common of viral hepatitis. Currently, approximately 350 million people suffer from chronic hepatitis B, and it is estimated that cancerous complications of this disease cause one million deaths each year, making hepatitis B the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality after tobacco.
Modes of transmission
HBV is transmitted through:
- Blood (unsafe transfusions, sharing of needles, contaminated equipment).
- The sexual route (unprotected intercourse).
- From mother to child (transmission at birth).
- Contaminated objects (razors, needles, tattooing equipment, etc.).
Acute hepatitis B (1 to 6 months after infection)
Some have no symptoms, but when they appear, we find:
Intense fatigue
Slight fever
Muscle and joint pain
Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
Abdominal pain (especially in the liver area, right side)
Dark urine (cola-colored)
Discolored (pale) stools
Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)
Itching sometimes
Chronic hepatitis B
Often asymptomatic for several years. When the signs appear, they are related to liver damage:
Persistent fatigue
General malaise
Chronic abdominal pain
Signs of advanced liver disease: ascites (swollen abdomen), edema, easy bleeding, persistent jaundice, weight loss.