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Hepatitis B is asymptomatic in its early stages.
JAKARTA – Hepatitis B is a disease that is asymptomatic in its early stages. The disease is often referred to as silent killer it must be wary of transmission.
Dr. Dr. Irsan Hasan SpPD-KGEH explained, the transmission route hepatitis B divided into two, namely horizontal transmission and vertical transmission. Local transmission is transmission of hepatitis B that occurs from a person to someone else, for example through a contaminated needle, sexual intercourse, or transfusion.
Vertical transmission only occurs in pregnant women who are positive for hepatitis B to their babies. Irsan said, 90 percent of infants infected through this vertical transmission would become chronic.
“While those infected are adults, the possibility of becoming a chronic is only 10 percent,” said Irsan in a webinar organized by Kalbe Ethical Customer Care (KECC) and Hepamax.
Hepatitis B examination, treatment and vaccination can be detected through a blood test by checking HBsAg and Anti HBs. A positive HBsAg result indicates that the person has hepatitis B. Meanwhile, a positive Anti HBs result indicates that the person already has immunity.
“Later the doctor will continue with HBeAg, Anti HBe and HBV DNA tests,” Irsan said.
The goal of hepatitis B treatment is to eliminate the virus and inhibit progression. Irsan said, the virus that causes hepatitis B is quite difficult to be completely eliminated, therefore efforts are also made to inhibit disease progression.
That is, if the liver is still healthy, the course of the disease must be obstructed so as not to harden the liver. When hardening has occurred, it needs to be intercepted so as not to become cirrhosis. When cirrhosis has occurred, it is prevented from becoming cancerous.
“If it becomes cirrhosis or cancer, don’t let the patient die, that’s the main goal of treatment,” said Irsan.
Related to treatment, Irsan said, all types of drugs for hepatitis B are available in Indonesia. However, not all patients have to get antiviral medication.
Antiviral drugs are only given to patients who meet the indications. The doctor will determine whether a patient needs to get antiviral medication or not.
For patients who need treatment, this drug will be given in the long term for years and even for life. Therefore, the best way is to do prevention of hepatitis B through vaccination.
“So if you want to prevent it, the choice is vaccination,” said Irsan.
Source: Republic
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