Chronic Hepatitis B
Chronic hepatitis B is a persistent infection of the liver by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Unlike the acute form, which the body clears within months, chronic hepatitis B lasts more than six months and often for life. Asia carries the highest global burden, roughly 60% of people living with chronic HBV worldwide are in the Asia-Pacific region, with particularly high prevalence in China, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Medicines used to treat Chronic Hepatitis B
Epivir Hbv
100mg
Indicated for chronic hepatitis b to support viral suppression and hepatocyte health.
Why it often goes undetected
Most people with chronic hepatitis B have no obvious symptoms for years or even decades. The liver is damaged gradually, and by the time fatigue, jaundice, or abdominal discomfort appear, significant scarring (fibrosis) may already be present. This long silent phase is why routine blood screening matters, especially in high-prevalence countries across Southeast and East Asia where mother-to-child transmission at birth remains a common route of infection.
How antiviral therapy limits liver damage
Treatment does not eliminate the virus but suppresses it to very low levels, slowing fibrosis progression and sharply reducing the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Medicines from the antivirals category work by blocking HBV replication. Entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil are the two first-line agents recommended internationally; both achieve strong viral suppression with a low risk of resistance. Lamivudine, an older nucleoside analogue also used in HIV management, was historically the first oral agent for HBV and is still used in some settings.
Monitoring and long-term care
People on antiviral therapy require regular liver function tests and HBV DNA measurement to confirm that the virus remains suppressed. Ultrasound surveillance every six months is standard for those with cirrhosis or other liver cancer risk factors. Lifestyle measures, limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, and vaccination of close contacts, complement medical treatment.