Treating Hepatitis B There is currently no specific treatment for acute (short-term) hepatitis B. Unless your symptoms are particularly severe; you should be able to manage them at home with the use of over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol. Most people tend to be free of symptoms and recover completely within a couple of months, never going on to develop chronic hepatitis. Once your symptoms get better, you will need further testing to check that you are free of the virus and have not developed chronic hepatitis B. Chronic hepatitis B can be treated using a combination of antiviral medications designed to slow the spread of the virus and the damage being done to the liver, allowing the body to repair itself. However, it is unusual for this treatment to clear the virus permanently. You may need regular tests to assess the state of your liver. This might include blood tests, an ultrasound or a FibroScan, and possibly a liver biopsy. In some cases, treatment works well and it is possible for your immune system to regain control over hepatitis B. In this case your doctor may advise you to stop taking medication altogether. It is very important that you take your treatment as prescribed.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 11:49:34 +0000