Hepatitis B
Treatment Overview
Treatment of hepatitis B infection depends on how active the virus is and whether you are at risk for liver damage such as Reference cirrhosis Opens New Window.
Treatment of short-term (acute) hepatitis B
Treatment depends on whether you:
- Have been recently infected with the virus.
- Have the symptoms of an acute infection.
- Have chronic infection.
If you have not gotten a hepatitis B vaccine and think you may have been exposed to the virus, you
should get a shot of
Reference hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and the first of
three shots of
the hepatitis B vaccine 
(What is a Reference PDF Opens New Window document?). It is important to receive this treatment within 7 days
after a needle stick and within 2 weeks after sexual contact that may have
exposed you to the virus. The sooner you receive treatment after exposure, the
better the treatment works.
If you have the symptoms of acute infection, treatment with antiviral medicine usually isn't needed. Home treatment—such as eating well, drinking plenty of fluids, and avoiding alcohol and drugs— usually will relieve your symptoms.
In some cases, you may be given medicine to treat an acute infection. But using medicine usually isn't done unless a person is very sick.
Treatment of long-term (chronic) hepatitis B
Treatment depends on how active the virus is in your body and your chance of liver damage. The goal of treatment is to stop liver damage by keeping the virus from multiplying.
Antiviral medicine is used if the virus is active and you are at risk for liver damage. Medicine slows the ability of the virus to multiply.
Antiviral treatment isn't given to everyone who has chronic hepatitis B.
- Opens New Window Hepatitis B: Should I Take Antiviral Medicine for Chronic Hepatitis B? Opens New Window
Follow-up visits
Whether or not you take medicine, you will need to visit your doctor regularly. He or she will do blood tests to check your liver and the activity of the hepatitis B virus in your body.
Some of the tests can find out whether the virus is multiplying in your liver, which would increase your risk of liver damage.
Liver transplant
If you develop advanced liver damage and your condition becomes life-threatening, you may need a Reference liver transplant. But not everyone is a good candidate for a liver transplant.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference October 29, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Reference W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology |
|
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
