Patient's question:
My relative is a carrier of hepatitis B, a type of liver disease, and has been for over ten years. My relative has been taking medication consistently and has managed to stay healthy throughout these ten years. Despite the condition, my relative has also gone through a divorce and had children. One of my relative's friends has hepatitis A, and he always says that once you get hepatitis B or hepatitis A, you can never truly recover. Which is more severe between hepatitis B and hepatitis A, and what are the differences between them?Doctor's answer:
The hepatitis A virus enters the human body approximately 2 to 6 weeks, and patients will experience symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and joint pain. Over 90% of patients do not exhibit jaundice of the skin and sclera, and due to mild symptoms, they recover on their own without treatment. The overall goal of chronic hepatitis B treatment is to maximize the long-term suppression of HBV, reduce liver cell inflammation and necrosis as well as liver fibrosis, and slow down and prevent liver decompensation. With severe liver cirrhosis, it is necessary to be vigilant about the occurrence of HCC and its complications to improve quality of life and extend survival time.