It is an infectious disease that affects the liver caused by a microorganism called the hepatitis B virus. The disease can cause liver disease with an acute course and heal, or it can become chronic and cause permanent liver damage. Hepatitis B is an infectious disease affecting 3.5 million people in our country.
With the introduction of the hepatitis B vaccine into the national vaccination calendar in 1998, it was aimed to reduce the number of individuals infected with the infection. As it can be understood from here, it is a disease that can be prevented by vaccination.
The disease can be transmitted through contact with blood and other body fluids, through the placenta (if the mother with hepatitis B infection becomes pregnant).
In acute hepatitis B infection, the disease does not cause serious damage to the liver. The rate of conversion to chronic hepatitis B in patients who had acute hepatitis B in adult patients is between 5-10%.
In diagnosis and follow-up, we can apply with molecular tests as well as biochemical tests. In chronic hepatitis B, on the other hand, the disease is the condition of liver function tests lasting longer than 6 weeks and the values showing that the virus, which we call HBVDNA, is multiplying in the blood, above certain limits. When liver biopsy is performed in these patients, liver damage is observed. The situation is slightly different in patients with chronic hepatitis B. These patients may require drug treatments as a result of biochemical tests, molecular tests and liver biopsy when necessary. Because if not treated, patients may develop cirrhosis and other accompanying organ damage.
As a gastroenterologist, we recommend vaccination for individuals who have not encountered hepatitis B by evaluating it. We generally apply supportive treatment in patients with acute hepatitis B. In chronic hepatitis B, on the other hand, we have to be vigilant in terms of accompanying complications (ie secondary diseases due to the disease) while turning to the treatment of the disease. The long-term risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer in chronic hepatitis B disease increases over the years.
