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How do you know if you have Hepatitis?
A simple blood test can tell you whether or not a person is infectd with hepatitis.
Treatment for hepatitis can help stop new damage to the liver and sometimes existing damage. Patients who do not treat their hepatitis are at greater risk for cirrhosis, liver cancer and end-stage liver disease. There are three goals of hepatitis treatment: 1) Reduce the viral load in a patient's body; 2) Enable the body's own defenses to fight the infection; 3) Keep the virus from actively multiplying; 4) Treat or control liver damage.
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Treatment for Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis A is an acute infection. Immune globulin is given to treat people infected with hepatitis A.
- Once infected and treated, a person does not become infected again with hepatitis A.
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Treatment for Hepatitis B
- Except for pregnant women, there are three drugs to treat chronic hepatitis B:
- Adefovir dipivoxil
- Alpha interferon
- Lamivudine
- People infected with chronic hepatitis B should see their doctor about liver disease.
- It is recommended that people with chronic hepatitis B avoid alcohol since it can make hepatitis or other types of liver disease worse.
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Treatment for Hepatitis C
- There are two drugs available for treating people with chronic hepatitis C:
- People infected with chronic hepatitis C infection should be checked regularly for liver disease.
- It is recommended that people with chronic hepatitis C avoid alcohol since it can make hepatitis or other types of liver disease worse.
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