Monitoring your condition
Take an active role by visiting your doctor regularly and learning about chronic hepatitis B therapy.
If you have chronic hepatitis B, you need to work closely with your doctor to monitor your condition, detect any problems early, and begin chronic hepatitis B therapy if needed.
Your primary care physician may manage your chronic hepatitis B or you may see a specialist. Two types of specialists who may help you are:
- A hepatologist: A doctor who focuses on diseases of the liver.
- A gastroenterologist: A doctor who specializes in disorders of the gastrointestinal system. This includes the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, intestines, and liver.
At each visit, your doctor may perform exams and tests to find out how active the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is in your body and whether you have liver damage. These will help to determine if you need to begin chronic hepatitis B therapy.
These may include:
- A medical history to find out about any changes in your symptoms, medicines, diet, or lifestyle.
- A physical exam to assess your overall health.
- An ultrasound of your liver to check for any abnormalities on the surface of your liver.
- A blood test for ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)—a liver enzyme that can indicate liver damage.
- A viral load blood test to measure the amount of HBV in your blood.
- A liver biopsy in some cases. This involves removing a small piece of tissue from the liver and examining it under a microscope to look for inflammation or liver damage.
Deciding if chronic hepatitis B therapy is needed
The results of these tests will help you and your doctor decide if chronic hepatitis B therapy is right for you. Not everyone who has chronic hepatitis B needs treatment. Talk to your doctor to find out if you are a candidate for chronic hepatitis B therapy.
Click on the "Next" link below to learn more about chronic hepatitis B therapy options.