Subtle Symptoms and Detection of Hepatitis B: Expert Insights

KOMPAS.com – Experts say that the symptoms of hepatitis B can sometimes be vague or the disease appears without obvious symptoms.

Please note, hepatitis B is an inflammatory liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus.

Read further to find out the subtle symptoms of hepatitis B and how to detect this disease.

Also read: Get to know what Hepatitis B is, symptoms, causes and how to treat it

Symptoms of hepatitis B can be subtle

Internal medicine specialist from the Sulianti Saroso Infection Center Hospital (RSPI) Jakarta, Dr Dr Iman Firmansyah, SH, MH, Sp.PD, KPTI, FINASIM, CMC, CCD explained that chronic hepatitis B can sometimes appear without symptoms.

“In chronic conditions, hepatitis B can be without symptoms,” explained Iman, while talking on the Ministry of Health’s Live Podcast, Tuesday (12/9/2023).

Furthermore, the doctor who serves as Head of the RSPI Internal Medicine Medical Staff Group said that there are two types of hepatitis B.

First, the acute type (occurs suddenly and gets worse quickly). Second, the chronic type (prolonged infection that lasts a lifetime). It is in this chronic phase that hepatitis B usually appears without symptoms.

Considering that hepatitis B sometimes has no symptoms, hepatitis B is also known as a silent disease. According to the Hepatitis B Foundation, most hepatitis B sufferers do not show symptoms of the disease when initially infected.

Quoting the book Hepatitis and the HIV Virus by Chris W Green (2016), around 30 percent to 40 percent of hepatitis B sufferers do not show symptoms of the disease.

Because some of the symptoms of hepatitis B are subtle, this disease can be transmitted without those closest to you or those around you realizing it.

Also read: Can Hepatitis B Be Cured? Here’s the explanation…

What are the symptoms of hepatitis B?

According to the Ministry of Health, when showing signs of disease, there are several symptoms of hepatitis B that need to be watched out for, including:

No appetite Nausea and vomiting Flu-like, like tiredness, pain all over the body, headache, high fever Stomach ache, especially in the upper right abdomen Yellowish whites of the eyes and skin or jaundice

Doctor Iman explained that many sufferers experience severe symptoms of hepatitis B, such as jaundice.

“At the beginning there is usually a fever, rash, or reddish skin. However, in acute conditions it usually immediately gets worse until it is called jaudience or yellowness.” said Faith.

Imam added that patients with hepatitis B in the acute phase will experience yellowness in the eyes, skin, nails and urine that is dark yellow like tea. However, this acute phase is rare, or less than 5 percent.

Chronic hepatitis can progress to liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. This condition damages the tissue in the liver, so that liver function cannot run optimally.

In severe conditions, the disease can also progress to liver failure which is characterized by jaundice, swelling in both legs, accumulation of fluid in the stomach, and impaired consciousness.

Also read: 8 Ways to Prevent Hepatitis B, Not Just Vaccines

How to detect hepatitis B without symptoms?

According to Doctor Iman, the main way to detect hepatitis B sufferers without symptoms or symptoms is the HBsAg test.

“To know whether someone is infected with the hepatitis B virus or not, of course HBsAg must be checked. Positive HBsAg indicates that he or she has been infected with hepatitis B,” explained Iman.

If the test result is negative for hepatitis B, a person is recommended to undergo vaccination 3 times in a row.

If someone has just been infected with the hepatitis B virus or suffers from acute hepatitis B, it is best to retest after six months to determine the level of antibodies to this disease.

By knowing the symptoms of hepatitis B, whether they are symptomatic or not, as described above, you can be more aware of this infectious disease.

Also read: Recognize the Meaning of Positive HBsAg on Hepatitis B Examination

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2023-09-16 12:31:00
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