GI & Liver » Hepato-biliary-pancreas » Liver & Spleen

Hepatitis B

If acute viral hepatitis is suspected, the following tests should be performed: IgM antibodies against hepatitis A, HBsAg, IgM antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen and hepatitis C antibodies. Other viral markers for viral hepatitis D, infectious mono nucleosis, cytomegalovirus infection, herpes simplex virus and parvovirus B19 may be asked in a few selected cases. The disease is self-limiting and complete clinical and biochemical recovery may take 2-3 months. Majority of icteric adults with Hepatitis B with good immune response achieve clinical and biochemical recovery over 4-16 weeks, 5-10 % may develop protracted course and less than 1 % develops fulminant hepatitis. Chronicity is well known in HBV infection, particularly in infants and children who contract this infection early in life and in adults with poor immune response and those who develop anicteric course. Persistent HBsAg for more than six months is defined as chronic HBV infection which may be asymptomatic with normal ALT/AST, low HBeAg or may be active with raised ALT/ AST, positive HBeAg and serum HBV DNA load >1OOOOO copies/ml. Chronic HBV patients should be followed up with ALT/AST at regular interval 3-6 months or earlier, Alpha foeto protein every six months and USG abdomen for liver and colour doppler for Vascular structures

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