Various questions on Hepatitis B

[Patric0411]

1) How long is the incubation period for Hepatitis B?
2) Can one be saved from the disease if he/she get shots before symptoms occur?
3) If a person with a perfectly normal immune system got infected with Hepatitis B virus, how long will it take for his body get rid of the virus? ( the question is based on the report that 95% of people with normal immune system recovers from the infection.)
4) Is there a chance for a person chronically infected with HBV to get impotent?
5) Are there herbal substitutes for the treatment of people chronically infected with HBV?
6) What is the life expectancy of a person (with a healthy life style) chronically infected with HBV if he/she will not treat the disease?
Thanks in advance to those who can enlighten me of the above questions. God bless and more power to this site.

Pat

[britgirl477]

Hey Patric I am the mysterious woman that bberry speaks about who had acute HBV virus for 10 months!!!!!! My doc says that due to my diabetes my immune system was taking longer to clear the virus than a normal healthy person. So some people clear the virus in 6 weeks others in 6months and then there's me! The important thing to find when you have blood taken and the virus is STILL there is whether or not you still have your IgM antibody. This is the antibody that still proves you are in acute phase. Each time I had bloods taken I always checked this was there and if it was then I knew I still was in the running for clearing the virus.

Bberry is right tho' that most people clear it and whilst an HIV patient might clear a totally healthy young man/woman might not. There is no definites with this virus. But docs do seem to know from the patterns that arise throughout the 6 months timeframe, what they are looking for.

If you should end up chronic, then just be sensible and stay off alcohol. My doc stated that diet wise not much damage could be done, and that a healthy diet was fine and even a wee bit of what you fancy would do no harm. But everytime I saw him he repeated that all heppers must stay clear of alcohol. I paid attention to this for my 10months. In fact I am HBV clear now and you know what I have not touched a drop and never ever will, coz in my short time in hospital last year I saw alcoholics in my liver ward and decided it just is too high a price to pay. I was never a big drinker as I cannot stand the taste but just won't even take a drop now. I love my liver too much!
Brit

[bram44]

Nicely answered.

2.  Some people host systems don't react to the vaccination. Normally after vaccination (3 doses in a 3-6 month period), testing would show surface-antibody reactive.

But what I read in few threads some people do not have antibodies and are susceptible. They need to be extra careful.

[bberry]

1) How long is the incubation period for Hepatitis B?

up to 6 months.. usually within two weeks of when someone is first infected

2) Can one be saved from the disease if he/she get shots before symptoms occur?

if you got infection and virus is in you, vaccination is of no help.. its all up to your immune system  and how well it can fightoff the virus. if ofcourse you are negativd to hepB then vaccination protects you for life.

3) If a person with a perfectly normal immune system got infected with Hepatitis B virus, how long will it take for his body get rid of the virus? ( the question is based on the report that 95% of people with normal immune system recovers from the infection.)

up to 6 months and then he or she turns chronic. most people like you said 90-95% are able to fight it off. we have a mamber on here that stayed acute for almost10 months so there is a chance still but i wouldnt count on it. all studies suggest its a window of 6 months and then its chronic. by the way, you dont have to have "normal immune system" to rcover.. some people withco-infection of hiv or hepC go on to clear hepB sometime in their lives.. this is one of the unknowns  of how this virus works.. more to it e dont know then we already know..


4) Is there a chance for a person chronically infected with HBV to get impotent?
impotent ? wow.. hmmm no , the answer is defintely no

5) Are there herbal substitutes for the treatment of people chronically infected with HBV?

a million of them are available. most will regulate immujne system but will not "cure" hepB. most are cosidered to be lver friendly but none will promise a cure.. you lways want to stick to liver friendly food , drinks and diet in general to help your immune system fight off the virus even if you've turned chronic


6) What is the life expectancy of a person (with a healthy life style) chronically infected with HBV if he/she will not treat the disease
hmm, a year , two , maybe 10.. well, i am joking again.. relax you will likely, if chornic, die with hepB but chances are you wont die because of it. most people lead normal lives.. they just need to take care of themsleves, understand their condition and live a liver friendly life.. you have some limits onto what you can and can not do but it isnt to say you are gon live a worse life then others.. its a normal live with some strings attached.. learn more about your condition.. you know in the past, say 15/20+ years ago, they used to tell people with hepB to go home as there wasnt much medicine can do.. now we have revolutionary drugs to keep the viral load in tact, lower and reguate liver's function.. so soomer or latrer someone is gonna figure out how this virus works and once they do there's gonna be a cure for it.. dont hold your breath as this may not happen in youre time or mine but some doctors will tell you they can almost smell it..others will stay conserative.. i am with staying conservative til someone concrete appears.. 1, 2, 10 or 20 years.. hopefully we're alive to witness it

good luck and take care of your health..