When to start antiviral for hepatitis b
Hepatitis B: Treatment and care for a chronic condition
Viral hepatitis commonly was a hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In the United States it is
probably more common with hepatitis C and we have a lot of achievement in terms of the
treatment for the hepatitis C. So a lot of exciting and very effective medications have
come out. It's really promising for the people for people with hepatitis C. So the hepatitis
B is a little bit different. This is a chronic condition. It's more common in the Asian population.
However because of the immigration we do see a lot of hepatitis B infection in the clinic
as well. And this patient needs the the cure is slightly different than hepatitis C because
of the nature of the disease. So I feel like the viral the hepatitis is quite interesting
in terms of their management. Chronic hepatitis B depends on this varies because of it's a
it's it's a DNA virus so it's very difficult to use a medication to clear this virus. That's
why it's very hard, not like hepatitis C. It's not it's very hard to cure hepatitis
B. Hepatitis B management is different based on the viral replication based on different
phase of the hepatitis B infection. And also depends on the patient's other conditions
such as coinfection with hepatitis C and or with HIV. And the other thing for the hepatitis
B is interesting is even if people have immunity or they have previously had the hepatitis
B infection, when they become sick such as when they are a during the have chemotherapy
for other cancer so the hepatitis B can be reactivated and people can be very sick from
that. We do have treatment for the hepatitis B and the other thing is for the hepatitis
B the the people don't usually, if it's a chronic infection, people don't usually have
much symptoms. So what we typically do is to keep an eye close eye on the liver is because
hepatitis B can have have increased risk for cancer even without progressing to cirrhosis.
So this is one big part for compared to the hepatitis C. So this routine follow up and
close monitor is very important for the hepatitis B management.
