Hepatitis B and C treatment in Neelankarai, ECR
How hepatitis B and C spread, how they are tested and treated, and how to protect your liver, from the gastroenterology team at Healtree Hospital, ECR.
By the Healtree Hospital clinical team.
Hepatitis B and C are viral infections that inflame the liver and, if untreated, can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Both are diagnosed with blood tests. Hepatitis C can usually be cured with 8 to 12 weeks of tablets; hepatitis B is controlled with monitoring and antiviral medicines when needed, and prevented with vaccination. The gastroenterology team at Healtree Hospital, Neelankarai, ECR treats both.
How hepatitis B and C spread
Both viruses spread through blood and body fluids, not through food, water, sharing utensils or casual contact.
- From mother to baby at birth (especially hepatitis B)
- Unsafe injections or reused needles, and unscreened blood transfusions
- Sharing razors or toothbrushes
- Unprotected sexual contact (more common with hepatitis B)
- Tattoos or piercings with unsterilised equipment
Symptoms
Most people with chronic hepatitis B or C have no symptoms for years, which is why testing matters. When symptoms appear they can include tiredness, poor appetite, nausea, discomfort in the upper right abdomen, dark urine, and yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice).
Who should get tested
- Every pregnant woman (hepatitis B screening is routine in antenatal care)
- Anyone with abnormal liver function tests
- People who received blood transfusions or had surgery before routine screening
- Family members and partners of someone with hepatitis B
- People on dialysis, and healthcare workers
Diagnosis
A blood test (HBsAg for hepatitis B, anti-HCV for hepatitis C) shows whether you have been exposed. If positive, further tests measure the amount of virus, liver function and liver stiffness, and an ultrasound checks the liver's structure. These results decide whether treatment is needed and which kind.
Treatment
Hepatitis C: modern direct-acting antiviral tablets, usually taken for 8 to 12 weeks, cure over 95 percent of people.
Hepatitis B: many people only need regular monitoring. Those with active liver inflammation or significant scarring are given antiviral tablets, which keep the virus suppressed and protect the liver, often long term.
Protecting your liver
Avoid alcohol, keep a healthy weight, and check with your doctor before taking herbal remedies or new medicines. Family members should be tested for hepatitis B and vaccinated if not immune. Babies born to mothers with hepatitis B receive the vaccine and immunoglobulin soon after birth, which greatly reduces the chance of infection.
See a specialist in Neelankarai, ECR
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. Our Medical Gastroenterology & Hepatology team at Healtree Multi-Speciality Centre & Hospital can assess your situation. The hospital is open 24 hours.
Specialists: Dr. Rajasekaran
Related services: Laboratory (24/7), Ultrasound & Doppler
Frequently asked questions
- Can hepatitis C be cured?
- Yes. Direct-acting antiviral tablets taken for 8 to 12 weeks cure more than 95 percent of people with hepatitis C.
- Can hepatitis B be cured?
- Chronic hepatitis B is usually controlled rather than cured. Monitoring and antiviral tablets, when needed, protect the liver and keep the virus suppressed.
- Is there a vaccine for hepatitis B?
- Yes. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and highly effective and is part of the routine childhood schedule. Adults who are not immune can also be vaccinated. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.
- Can I spread hepatitis B or C by sharing food?
- No. They are not spread through food, water, shared utensils, hugging or coughing. They spread through blood and body fluids.
- Can a mother with hepatitis B breastfeed?
- Yes, once the baby has received the hepatitis B vaccine and immunoglobulin at birth. Your doctor will advise you.
Related reading
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