Hepatitis B
Home Treatment
Home treatment is important for relieving symptoms and preventing the spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV).
While there is no specific medical treatment for short-term (acute) hepatitis B, there are some things you can do that may help you feel better while the illness is running its course.
Slow down
- Reduce your activity level to match your energy level. You don't have to stay in bed, but listen to your body and slow down when you become tired.
- Don't go to work or school unless your workload can be reduced to match your energy level.
- Avoid strenuous exercise.
- As you start to feel better, go back to your regular activities gradually. If you try to meet your regular pace too soon, you may get sick again.
Eat right
- Even though food may not appeal to you, it is important to get adequate nutrition. For most people, nausea and loss of appetite become worse as the day goes on. Try eating a substantial (but not heavy) meal in the morning and lighter meals later in the day.
- Health professionals used to recommend a high-calorie, protein-rich diet to people who have hepatitis. This is no longer believed to be of any benefit, and such foods can be hard to eat when you feel nauseated. Try to maintain a balanced diet while eating foods that appeal to you.
Avoid dehydration
It is important that you keep your body well-hydrated when you have hepatitis B, especially if you have been vomiting.
- Drink plenty of water.
- If you can tolerate them, fruit juices and broth are other good choices, because they provide additional calories.
- Many of the "sports drinks" available in grocery stores can help replace essential minerals (electrolytes) that are lost during vomiting. You can also make your own rehydration drink.
Avoid alcohol and drugs
Hepatitis impairs your liver's ability to process drugs and alcohol. If you take drugs (prescription or illegal) or drink alcohol when you have hepatitis, their effects may be more powerful and may last longer. In addition, alcohol and some drugs can make liver damage worse.
- If you are taking prescription medications, your health professional may instruct you to stop using them until your liver has had time to heal. Do not stop taking prescription medications unless your health professional has told you to do so.
- Check with your health professional before taking any new medications or continuing the use of nonprescription medications, including herbal products and acetaminophen (such as Tylenol). Acetaminophen can make liver disease worse, especially if you continue to drink alcohol.
- You should avoid alcohol until your health professional feels that your liver is completely healed. This may take as long as 3 to 4 months.
Try to control itching
People with hepatitis sometimes develop itchy skin. You can control itching by keeping cool and out of the sun, wearing cotton clothing, or using nonprescription medications such as Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton. Talk to your health professional if you want to take nonprescription medications.
Be sure to follow the instructions that are provided with the product, and stop using the product if you have any side effects.
See your health professional regularly if you have chronic HBV infection
If you have been diagnosed with long-term (chronic) HBV infection, your health professional will recommend that you be vaccinated for hepatitis A if you have not been vaccinated or are not immune to this disease. For more information on hepatitis A, see the topic Hepatitis A. You also will need to visit your health professional regularly. He or she will do blood tests to monitor your liver function and the activity of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in your body. Some of the tests can tell your doctor whether HBV is actively multiplying in your liver, which increases your risk for chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis can lead to liver disease such as cirrhosis or liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma).
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| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS | Last Updated: October 15, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology | |
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