This name goes back to Australia, where this cell was discovered for the first time. The Australian antigen is more commonly known as the hepatitis B virus or called serum hepatitis.
The disease can take place in two forms:
- acute;
- chronic.
A lot in successful therapy depends on how quickly the patient turned for help to a doctor, and how early the treatment was started. The fact that this is an "Australian antigen", where and how they are infected with the speech will go lower.
Situations that contribute to infection
A very small number of cells is enough for pathology to develop successfully in the body. Typically, the Australian antigen from the carrier enters a healthy body as follows:
- through donor blood;
- multiple use of one syringe by several persons;
- sexual intercourse;
- from mother to child.
The last, vertical type of infection is a rarity. But the transmission of the virus to the child from the mother is equal to one hundred percent, when there is HIV infection, and hepatitis B in the acute stage coincides with the last months of pregnancy.
The Australian antigen is transmitted both during tattooing, and when visiting a dentist, piercing ears, and other similar procedures. But in half the cases the method of infection still remains unknown.
Disease flow
If we talk about what an Australian antigen is, then it should be noted that pathology begins to manifest itself only after a few months. It begins with symptoms similar to influenza or ARVI:
- temperature increase;
- weakness;
- headache;
- sometimes - a rash.
Later, jaundice is added and the picture begins to change:
- there is no appetite;
- there is vomiting and nausea;
- pain in the right upper quadrant;
- urine becomes dark, and feces, on the contrary - light.
Diagnosis of the disease
First of all, the patient receives information about a possible blood transfusion in the past, surgical interventions, casual sexual intercourse. The patient is also given several blood tests, including:
- identification of specific markers, namely, a positive Australian antigen;
- the change in blood parameters by biochemical processes - hepatic enzymes, bilirubin and others.
Treatment of the disease when an Australian antigen is detected
Therapy of the acute form of the disease differs from chronic treatment. So, in order to get rid of hepatitis B, acute preparations are prescribed for restoration of liver tissue and maintenance therapy. Much attention is paid to detoxification of the body.
When there is a chronic form, the doctor selects an individual complex, depending on the age and overall health of the patient. To do this, use:
- alpha interferons;
- nucleosides and their analogues;
- hepatoprotectors ;
- immunostimulants.
The chronic form of pathology is subject to therapy for about six months. After this time, repeated tests are scheduled. The indicator of recovery is
If the re-test again indicates a disease, the therapy should be repeated. Approximately one third of cases of hepatitis B are cured within six months. The remaining patients are referred for re-treatment, although a decrease in the parameters of the virus and bilirubin already indicates a positive trend.
Often a complete cure does not occur, but careful compliance with the diet and all the recommendations of the doctor gives a guarantee of a favorable course of the pathology. In this case, it is important to prevent the development of liver cirrhosis and cancer in this area.