Hepatitis B Specialist

Gastro Office Our Services Hepatitis B

Gastro Office

Gastroenterologists located in Hilliard, Ohio and serving residents in the greater Columbus area

Without treatment, Hepatitis B can cause serious complications with your liver including cancer or liver failure. Krishna Rayapudi, MD, and Rohan Modi, MD use the state-of-the-art diagnostic tools on site at Gastro Office to provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment strategy for conditions like hepatitis B. For more information on hepatitis B treatments in Hilliard, Ohio and the greater Columbus area, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.

Hepatitis B Q & A

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a liver infection that’s spread through blood, semen, or other bodily fluids. This condition can be contracted in several ways, such as through:

  • Open cuts or wounds
  • Unprotected sexual activity
  • Mother-to-baby transmission during childbirth
  • Sharing needles or accidental needle sticks

In some cases, hepatitis B clears up on its known within a few months, and you’re considered an inactive carrier. For others, it can become a chronic condition that lasts your entire lifetime.

A hepatitis B vaccine is available and is recommended for men and women at increased risk of contracting the infection, including health care workers and people who work in daycares, schools, or jails.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis B?

Approximately 30% of people with hepatitis B have no symptoms. When symptoms are present, they often include:

  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Abdominal pain
  • Persistent fatigue
  • Light-colored feces
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Urine that’s brown or orange
  • Yellowed skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice)

It can take one to six months for hepatitis B symptoms to appear after you’re infected. When left untreated, hepatitis B can cause permanent scarring on your liver and increase your risk of liver cancer or liver failure.

How is hepatitis B diagnosed and treated?

During your appointment, Dr. Rayapudi performs a full physical exam and discusses your symptoms. He also orders lab tests that check your blood for the hepatitis virus and antibodies that fight infection. If you have chronic hepatitis B, he might biopsy your liver.

Your treatment depends on the timeline for your exposure to the hepatitis B virus and the extent of your condition. If contact has occurred within two weeks, Dr. Rayapudi might boost your immune system with a vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin to help fight off the infection.

If you have hepatitis symptoms, Dr. Rayapudi might recommend bed rest to help you heal faster. It’s also essential to avoid substances that can damage your liver, such as alcohol and acetaminophen.

For chronic hepatitis B infections, medications may be prescribed to manage your condition.

If you think you’ve been exposed to hepatitis B, call Gastro Office or schedule an appointment online today.

What we offer

Conditions and Services