Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. Nigeria has one of the highest rates of hepatitis B in the world, and most people who carry it do not know, because long-term infection usually causes no symptoms for years. It passes from mother to baby at birth, through blood, unsafe injections and shared sharp instruments, and through sex. Without monitoring it can lead to liver scarring (cirrhosis) and liver cancer. It usually cannot be cured, but it can be controlled, and it is preventable with a vaccine.
Find a Gastroenterology SpecialistMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Symptoms
- Usually no symptoms for years
- In a new (acute) infection: tiredness, fever, nausea and loss of appetite
- Yellow eyes and skin (jaundice)
- Dark urine and pale stools
- Pain under the right ribs
- In advanced liver disease: a swollen belly, leg swelling, vomiting blood or confusion
When to See a Doctor
Every adult in Nigeria should have a hepatitis B test at least once, and every pregnant woman at antenatal booking. If you test positive, see a physician or gastroenterologist for further blood tests and a liver scan, even if you feel well, and keep up monitoring at least once a year. Go to hospital promptly for yellow eyes, vomiting blood, black stools, a swollen abdomen or confusion.
Treatment options
- Hepatitis B surface antigen test, then viral load, liver function tests and a liver scan if positive
- Regular monitoring for people who do not yet need treatment
- Antiviral tablets such as tenofovir or entecavir when the liver is affected or the virus is active
- Liver cancer surveillance with ultrasound for people at higher risk
- Vaccination of household members and sexual partners
- A birth-dose vaccine for babies of mothers with hepatitis B, and antivirals in late pregnancy when the viral load is high
Common Questions
Can hepatitis B be cured?
Long-term (chronic) hepatitis B usually cannot be cleared completely, although most adults clear a new infection on their own. Antiviral treatment controls the virus very effectively and greatly lowers the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Do herbal liver tonics treat hepatitis B?
No. No herbal treatment has been shown to clear the virus or protect the liver, and some herbal mixtures damage the liver themselves. Monitoring and, where needed, antivirals are what protect the liver.
Can I marry and have children if I have hepatitis B?
Yes. Your partner should be tested and vaccinated if not immune. With a birth-dose vaccine for the baby, and antiviral treatment in pregnancy where needed, the risk of passing it to your child is very low.
Is the hepatitis B vaccine effective?
Yes. A full course protects the great majority of people, very likely for life. It is part of Nigeria's routine childhood immunisation and is available for adults who have not been infected.
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