Hepatitis B and C Treatment in Sharjah

What is hepatitis B and C treatment?

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are viruses that live in the liver and pass between people through blood and, for hepatitis B, also through sexual contact and from mother to baby at birth. Both can stay quiet for many years while slowly inflaming the liver, which is why most people feel completely well when a test first comes back positive.

Treatment follows two different paths. Hepatitis C is a curable infection: a course of tablets taken once or twice a day clears the virus in most people, and a blood test after the course confirms the cure. Hepatitis B is usually a lifelong infection that is controlled rather than cleared. Some people need antiviral medicine to keep the virus suppressed; many others need only regular blood tests and scans so any change is caught early.

At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, care is led by a consultant gastroenterologist, and the wider picture of digestive and liver conditions is on the Gastroenterology page.

Who needs it

Most people are referred after an unexpected positive result. Common routes include:

• Routine health screening or a pre-employment medical
• Antenatal blood tests during pregnancy
• A blood donation that was flagged by the blood bank
• Abnormal liver blood tests found for another reason
• Testing because a partner or family member has hepatitis B

Understanding the result is the first step. A positive hepatitis B surface antigen means the virus is present now; if it persists beyond six months, the infection is called chronic. A positive hepatitis C antibody shows the body has met the virus at some point, and a second test that looks for the virus itself tells whether the infection is still active or has already cleared on its own. Many people with a positive antibody turn out to need a confirmation test and nothing more.

What happens

Your first visit is a private consultation. Your gastroenterologist takes a history, examines you and explains your results in plain words. Further blood tests measure the amount of virus, its type, liver function and signs of past infection with other viruses, and the samples are sent to the laboratory. An ultrasound of the liver is usually arranged, and a liver stiffness scan may be arranged to estimate any scarring. Occasionally a liver biopsy helps where the picture is unclear.

For hepatitis C, the plan is a course of tablets chosen for your virus type and liver health. You take them at home and attend check-ups during and after the course, ending with the blood test that confirms the virus has gone.

For hepatitis B, the decision is whether to start antiviral medicine now or to monitor. Medicine is recommended when blood tests or scans show the virus is active or the liver is being affected. Treatment, once started, is usually long term, and it works best when doses are taken every day.

For people with cirrhosis or certain other risk factors, liver cancer surveillance is added: regular ultrasound scans and blood tests at intervals set by your doctor, so any change is found at the stage when it is most treatable. Where specialist hepatology, cancer care or transplant assessment is needed, referral is arranged.

Preparing for it

Bring every test result you have, including the original screening report, antenatal results or blood bank letter, and any earlier liver scans. List all medicines, supplements and herbal remedies, since some interact with antiviral tablets or affect the liver.

Think about who in your household may need testing. For hepatitis B, your partner, children and others living with you are usually offered a blood test and, if they are unprotected, a hepatitis B vaccination course. Write down any questions about work, travel or pregnancy so they are covered in one visit. Your results and your consultation are handled confidentially.

Afterwards

After hepatitis C is cured, the antibody test usually stays positive for life, because it records past exposure rather than current infection. Keep your cure letter; future screening will show a positive antibody, and the letter explains it straight away.

With hepatitis B, follow-up continues for life at intervals your doctor sets. Liver-friendly habits help both conditions: avoiding alcohol, keeping a healthy weight, since fatty liver is common in the UAE and adds to liver strain, and checking with your doctor before starting any new medicine or supplement. If you plan to fast during Ramadan, discuss medicine timing in advance. Pregnant women with hepatitis B are guided through a plan so the baby receives protection at birth, alongside antenatal care.

Contact the hospital if you notice yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, or new swelling of the abdomen or legs. Go to the emergency department straight away if you vomit blood, pass black stools, or become confused or very drowsy. Do not stop hepatitis B medicine on your own, because stopping suddenly can trigger a flare of liver inflammation.

Cost and insurance

Most UAE insurance plans cover consultation, blood tests and liver ultrasound. Antiviral medicines for hepatitis B and C usually require insurance pre-approval, supported by recent blood results, so the team prepares the paperwork with you. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you check your cover on 06 599 7777 before your visit.