Can hepatitis B recur after turning negative?
Feb 22, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Jiang Weimin
Introduction
After hepatitis B turns negative, it may not recur, but recurrence is still possible, depending on individual circumstances. In addition, patients should not stop taking medication immediately after hepatitis B becomes negative. They should regularly visit the hospital for liver function tests and quantitative HBV DNA testing to monitor their condition. It is also important to avoid excessive fatigue and alcohol consumption.
After hepatitis B turns negative, it may not recur, but recurrence is still possible, depending on individual circumstances.
1. May not recur
Hepatitis B generally refers to chronic hepatitis B, which causes liver damage and is contagious through sexual contact, blood, and mother-to-child transmission. Patients may experience symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, and liver area pain. If treated promptly after diagnosis, and the hepatitis B virus is completely cleared from the body, recurrence typically does not occur.
2. May recur
After antiviral treatment, hepatitis B surface antigen may become negative, but this does not mean the virus has been entirely eliminated. The virus may still remain within liver cells and continue to replicate at very low levels. If antiviral medications are discontinued, the virus may gradually reactivate, leading to disease recurrence.
In addition, patients should not stop medication immediately after hepatitis B turns negative. Regular hospital visits for liver function tests and quantitative detection of hepatitis B virus DNA are necessary to monitor disease status. It is also important to avoid excessive fatigue and alcohol consumption.
