Fight against Hepatitis B! Only the right method can keep your liver healthy

According to statistics, more than 95% of adults in Taiwan have been infected with hepatitis B. There are approximately 3 million hepatitis B carriers in Taiwan, and approximately 15%-40% will develop other complications during their lifetime. A 19-year-old male was found to be a hepatitis B carrier during the university entrance examination. His liver function and ultrasound examinations were normal. Upon questioning, it was found that his mother was also a hepatitis B carrier.

There are currently approximately three million hepatitis B carriers in Taiwan.

Wang Zhitang, director of the gastroenterology and hepatobiliary department of Shutian Clinic, pointed out that the main transmission routes of hepatitis B are vertical transmission from mother to child and horizontal transmission through blood or body fluids. In Taiwan, the former is the main route and carriers are contagious. Since 1984, Taiwan has been the first country in the world to vaccinate newborns against hepatitis B. As a result, the number of hepatitis B carriers among the new generation of "new Taiwanese" has been greatly reduced. However, one in five to six "old Taiwanese" born before 1984 has the surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus in their serum. In other words, there are currently about three million hepatitis B carriers in Taiwan.

Hepatitis B carriers may develop chronic hepatitis, or even the terrible consequences of cirrhosis and liver cancer. For asymptomatic carriers, the annual incidence of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis developing liver cancer is approximately 0.1%, 0.8%, and 5.7%, respectively. Wang Zhitang said that if the liver function and liver tissue of hepatitis B carriers are normal, they should be followed up regularly; if they are carriers and have persistent abnormal liver function, they need treatment.

The principle of treatment is to choose drugs with high safety, few side effects and good effects. Currently available treatments include interferon injections and oral antiviral drugs, which can achieve the purpose of long-term suppression of viral replication through drugs. The goal of treatment is to prevent the disease from worsening into sequelae such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, or even liver cancer.

Wang Zhitang said that the age at the time of infection is an important factor in determining whether one is a carrier. If infected at a young age, the body's immune system is not yet fully mature, and the probability of being a carrier is higher; if infected in adulthood, antibodies are easily produced and the probability of being a carrier is lower. E antigen is one of the items in liver biochemical examination. When the e antigen is positive, it means that the hepatitis B virus is highly active and contagious. However, when the e antigen turns negative, it does not mean that the virus has been completely eradicated. Therefore, only by following the doctor's advice can you find the most suitable treatment method.

With the right method, you can have a healthy liver even if you have hepatitis B! Wang Zhitang said that recent studies have found that hepatitis B carriers can delay or even alleviate cirrhosis and liver fibrosis after treatment. Therefore, early tracking and treatment are very important, which can reduce the chance of further developing into liver cancer.

You also need to adjust your daily life and avoid eating foods containing aflatoxin (such as peanut products, fermented tofu, etc.), because aflatoxin is a known carcinogen and frequent consumption will burden the liver; eat more yellow-green vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins A and C, such as green beans, carrots, cauliflower, pumpkin, dried fish, mango, papaya, tangerine, orange, lemon, seaweed, etc.; maintain a normal daily routine and do not stay up late or drink alcohol.