logo
Best Gastroenterologist NYC | Top GI Doctor | Zocdoc Gastroenterologist and Liver Specialist
  • Home
  • Daniel Motola MD, PhD
    • Why Dr. Motola?
    • Education and Training
    • Hospital Affiliations
    • Insurances accepted
    • Media Articles
    • Publications
    • Referring Provider
  • Areas of Specialty
    • Anal Fissures
    • Acute Diarrhea
    • Difficulty Swallowing
    • Fatty Liver Disease
    • GERD & Heartburn
    • Gluten Related Disorders
    • Hepatitis B
    • Hepatology
    • H. pylori
    • Rectal bleeding
    • Other Conditions Treated
  • Procedures Offered
    • Upper endoscopy (EGD)
    • Colonoscopy
    • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
    • Video Capsule Endoscopy
  • Diets
  • Reviews
  • Blog
  • Book Visits Online
  • Locations
    • Gastroenterologist Financial District NYC
    • Gastroenterologist Midtown Manhattan NYC
Banner
Posted on November 30, 2019 by Daniel Motola, MD, PhD

Hepatitis B Diagnosis and Treatment

Daniel L. Motola MD, PhD is a Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist (Liver specialist) in NYC offering comprehensive evaluation and treatment for Hepatitis B (HBV) infection.

Hepatitis B Diagnosis and Treatment

What is Chronic Hepatitis B infection?

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver and can lead to liver inflammation, liver scarring or fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Chronic infection is a condition in which the infection last more than 6 months and a protein called the HBV surface antigen (HBV sAg) is detectable in the blood.

What causes HBV infection?

Chronic HBV occurs after infection via blood-to-blood contact with an infected individual. The most common modes of transmission are from mother-to-child during child birth, from unprotected sexual activity, and after needle sharing during injection drug use.

Those at highest risk of infection include those born to mothers infected with HBV particularly in patients born in areas of the world with high numbers of infected patients such as Central Asia, China, Japan, Middle East, Eastern Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. There is a smaller number of patients infected in the United States, Canada and Western Europe, comparatively.

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis B?

Symptoms of Hepatitis B infection range from no symptoms (asymptomatic) to liver cirrhosis and liver failure, which can present with yellowing of the eyes, confusion, bleeding, and fluid accumulation (i.e. ascites and edema).

Does HBV cause liver cancer?

Yes, cancer of the liver, also known as Hepatocellular Carcinoma, can occur in patients with Chronic HBV infection.  Some patients require more close monitoring for early detection than others and this depends on ethnicity, age, sex, stage of the disease, and level of viral activity. A Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist (Liver Specialist) can identify those that require close monitoring.

How is Hepatitis B diagnosed?

Hepatitis B infection can be acute (infection present for less than 6 months) or chronic (greater than 6 months). Blood tests help distinguish between acute infection and chronic infection. Diagnosis requires careful interpretation of test results by a Gastroenterologist or Hepatologist.

What is the treatment for Hepatitis B?

Some patients with hepatitis B infection do not require treatment as the virus may clear itself, such as in the case of acute infection in an adult. Only close monitoring is required. However, patients who are chronically infected may require treatment, when indicated, with anti-viral medications taken daily.

Patients who are not yet candidates for treatment should be closely monitored regularly with blood testing. This is important as the stage of infection can change as an individual gets older.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Hepatitis B. The virus can be suppressed with once daily dosing of a medication that has few side effects.

Can HBV be prevented?

Yes, a vaccine exists to protect against HBV. Anyone can receive the vaccine, but it is particularly important for non-immune partners of infected individuals, children born to infected mothers, health care workers, HIV infected individual and men who have sex with men to receive the immunization. It’s a three-shot series of vaccinations.

If you or a loved one has Hepatitis B, make an appointment to see Dr. Motola in his midtown and lower manhattan office locations. You can call 212-227-3688 or book online.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Post navigation

Previous PostPrevious What is a GI Doctor?
Next PostNext How to Survive IBS During The Holidays!

Join the Gut Healthy Newsletter

Receive alerts when new articles are posted to Dr. Motola’s informative blog, Digest This. It’s a great way to improve your gut health, medical knowledge, and impress your co-workers!.

We respect your privacy.

 

Blog Archive

Click links below to jump to articles in the blog

December 2019

When Should I Get a Colonoscopy?
December 2, 2019

How to Survive IBS During The Holidays!
December 2, 2019

November 2019

Hepatitis B Diagnosis and Treatment
November 30, 2019

What is a GI Doctor?
November 6, 2019

September 2019

Rectal and Anal Disorders: What to know, what to do
September 1, 2019

May 2019

Heartburn & Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Explained:
May 29, 2019

Health Insurance Benefits 101
May 9, 2019

April 2019

AETNA is Now Covering Colon Cancer Screening at Age 45
April 30, 2019

Practical Information for Someone with Acute Diarrhea
April 26, 2019

March 2019

What’s the deal with gluten?
March 29, 2019

The What, Why, and How of Hemorrhoids
March 17, 2019

October 2017

What’s causing my abdominal pain? When size does matter!
October 2, 2017

August 2017

Cyclospora on the rise as cause of watery diarrhea
August 8, 2017

May 2017

FODMAPs in The Press!
May 2, 2017

April 2017

A Diet Low in FODMAPS Can Improve Symptoms of Bloating in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Go Low FODMAP!
April 27, 2017


Daniel L. Motola MD, PhD Gotham Medical Associates 123 William Street, 15th Floor New York, New York 10038

Tel : (212) 227-3688 Fax : (212) 227-3368