Differences and Similarities Between Hepatitis A and B Explained
What are the similarities and differences between Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B? Dear Dr. Yang: What are the similarities and differences between Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B?
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
Comparison of Hepatitis Viruses: A, B, C, D, E, G Transmission Routes: Oral, Blood, Body Fluids, Blood, Body Fluids, Blood, Body Fluids, Oral, Blood, Body Fluids Chronicity: No, Yes, Yes, Yes, No, Yes Causes Cirrhosis: No, Yes, Yes, Yes, No, ? Carcinogenic: No, Yes, Yes, No, ...[Read More] Differences and Similarities Between Hepatitis A and B Explained
What to Do After Accidentally Chewing Tobacco: Essential Advice
Tobacco Dear Doctor, I have a problem with tobacco. I carelessly ingested about 5 grams of chewing tobacco. I have never used it before. I really want to know what I should do after consuming it. I realize now how foolish I was, but I didn't know the risks beforehand. Could...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
Tobacco can induce lung carcinoma, increase the risk of heart disease, and cause sexual dysfunction, which is attributed to venous occlusion leading to infertility. Many cancers, such as those of the kidney, pancreas, and esophagus, are associated with prolonged exposure to this ...[Read More] What to Do After Accidentally Chewing Tobacco: Essential Advice
Understanding Muscle Pain: Insights on Myalgia and Related Conditions
Muscle pain Dear Dr. Yang, My father was diagnosed with a malignant tumor of the thyroid gland in June 1999 and underwent surgical resection at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. The doctors informed us that it was a type of papillary thyroid carcinoma. It has been over a y...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
Papillary thyroid carcinoma is one of the more common types of thyroid cancer, and it has a good treatment outcome. The situation you described suggests that the physician suspects there may be a neck issue that needs to be investigated for possible causes.[Read More] Understanding Muscle Pain: Insights on Myalgia and Related Conditions
Can Mothers with Hepatitis B Breastfeed? Key Considerations for Newborns
Can a mother with dual-positive hepatitis B breastfeed? Hello Dr. Yang, I am a carrier of hepatitis B and have been regularly checking my liver function every six months. My liver function tests, which were originally over 300, have now decreased to around 30 to 40. However, the...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
You have active hepatitis that can lead to cirrhosis, and there are medications available for treatment. Please seek treatment at our outpatient clinic as soon as possible. 1. You can breastfeed. 2. If your child becomes infected, they may become a carrier and develop liver disea...[Read More] Can Mothers with Hepatitis B Breastfeed? Key Considerations for Newborns
Understanding Chest Discomfort: Is It a Heart Issue?
Heart I often feel a tightness in my chest, as if I can't catch my breath. When I pat my chest, it feels like a cough, and releasing a breath makes me feel somewhat better. It gets worse at night, and I can only sleep on my side. Could this indicate a heart problem? Can an e...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
You have autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and after improving your living environment and using medication, you can see improvement in 3 to 4 days.[Read More] Understanding Chest Discomfort: Is It a Heart Issue?
Dietary Considerations for Hepatitis B Carriers During Pregnancy
Hepatitis B carrier Hello Dr. Yang, I would like to ask if hepatitis B carriers should avoid eating peanut butter to prevent aflatoxin infection and inflammation? What dietary precautions should be taken? Additionally, I am currently 23 weeks pregnant, and my recent blood tests s...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
1. Yes, you should consume more high-protein foods and avoid foods that are high in fats. 2. Being HBsAg positive indicates that you have a higher infectiousness; please administer immunoglobulin within 24 hours of the child's birth. There are antiviral medications availab...[Read More] Dietary Considerations for Hepatitis B Carriers During Pregnancy
What to Do If Your Child Swallows a Marble: Expert Advice
What to do if a marble is accidentally swallowed? Doctor Yang, my 3-year-old child accidentally swallowed a marble. What should I do? Will it have any health effects? If it does not pass naturally, how should I handle it? Thank you.
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
Children at the age of 3 often have the opportunity to swallow foreign objects. Whether the object (such as a marble) can pass naturally depends on its size. If the object is smaller than a one-dollar coin, it may pass on its own. However, if you observe that it has not passed wi...[Read More] What to Do If Your Child Swallows a Marble: Expert Advice
Managing Diabetes: Diet Tips, Insulin Effects, and New Treatments
Diabetes mellitus 1. I would like to know what dietary choices are best for managing diabetes. 2. Does long-term insulin injection have adverse effects on the body? 3. Are there better treatment options available for diabetes now?
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
1. Avoid consuming high-sugar foods such as sugary beverages, and increase physical activity. 2. Insulin is a substance that the body naturally produces, making it essential for the treatment of diabetes, and it does not have adverse effects. 3. There are now many new oral medica...[Read More] Managing Diabetes: Diet Tips, Insulin Effects, and New Treatments
Understanding Hepatitis B Carriers: Treatment Options and Symptoms Explained
Hepatitis B carrier Hello, Dr. Yang: I would like to ask. My wife is a foreign bride (from Vietnam). Previously, she had a health check in Vietnam, and her liver showed elevated positive indices. After returning to Taiwan, we recently had her blood tested, and the report indicate...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
1. He is currently a possible carrier of hepatitis B; please have an ultrasound examination every three months. 2. There are currently many medications available for treating hepatitis B; please do not trust folk remedies. 3. Carriers of hepatitis B and C indicate that the he...[Read More] Understanding Hepatitis B Carriers: Treatment Options and Symptoms Explained
When Is a Liver Biopsy Necessary? Understanding Risks and Costs
Liver biopsy When is a liver biopsy necessary? Is it required if the hepatitis B e-antigen is positive? I have heard that blood tests and ultrasounds (which I have been doing regularly) do not necessarily indicate that the liver is free of problems, and that there is a high proba...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
Liver biopsy is only necessary for undiagnosed liver diseases such as liver tumors or non-B and C hepatitis. The risk is low, but physicians do not perform liver biopsies lightly unless absolutely necessary. This procedure is covered by health insurance. Normal levels of GOT (AST...[Read More] When Is a Liver Biopsy Necessary? Understanding Risks and Costs
Understanding Hepatitis C: Risks and Precautions for Pregnancy
Hepatitis C Hello! I would like to ask, my husband has hepatitis C, and he undergoes regular check-ups every six months (blood tests and ultrasounds). If we plan to have a child, I am concerned about whether I or the child could be infected, and if there are any other precautions...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
Hepatitis C is the second most prevalent liver disease in Taiwan, following Hepatitis B. Approximately half of patients with Hepatitis C have a history of blood transfusions; other possible routes of infection include the use of unclean needles, acupuncture, tattoos, and ear pier...[Read More] Understanding Hepatitis C: Risks and Precautions for Pregnancy
Experiencing Heavy Bleeding During Bowel Movements: What to Do?
Experiencing significant bleeding during a bowel movement..? Hello, Dr. Yang! I experienced significant bleeding during a bowel movement, and there was a lot of blood on the toilet paper, which scared me! I'm wondering if it could be related to the food I ate. The night befo...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
You are experiencing lower gastrointestinal bleeding and should consult a colorectal surgeon. An appointment for a colonoscopy has been arranged with Dr. Yang Guojun, a gastroenterologist.[Read More] Experiencing Heavy Bleeding During Bowel Movements: What to Do?
Understanding Hepatitis B Carriers: Health Implications and Pregnancy Concerns
Hepatitis B carrier Three years ago, I was diagnosed with hepatitis B through a blood test, and in September of the 89th year, I had a blood test for the E antigen, which indicated that I do not have hepatitis B. However, in June of the 89th year, I underwent a premarital health ...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
As a carrier of hepatitis B, the severity of your liver disease needs to be assessed through tests such as GOT, GPT, and ultrasound examinations. There are various methods for weight loss, and obesity is primarily related to genetics, with a smaller portion influenced by dietary ...[Read More] Understanding Hepatitis B Carriers: Health Implications and Pregnancy Concerns
Comparing Acute Hepatitis A and B: Similarities and Differences
Similarities and Differences Between Acute Hepatitis A and B Similarities: 1. Both are viral infections that affect the liver. 2. Both can cause similar symptoms, such as fatigue, jaundice, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite. 3. Both can be diagnosed through blood tests that d...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
Both hepatitis A and B can present with acute episodes; however, hepatitis A does not progress to chronic infection, while a small percentage of hepatitis B cases may develop into chronic infections. Acute hepatitis B can potentially be more severe than hepatitis A. After recover...[Read More] Comparing Acute Hepatitis A and B: Similarities and Differences
Understanding Colorectal Polyps: Symptoms, Risks, and Treatment Options
Colorectal polyposis I started experiencing intestinal colic about 6 to 7 years ago. At the end of last year, I visited a doctor due to stomach discomfort and, after taking medication for a while, I thought I had recovered when the symptoms disappeared. Recently, in the past two ...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
Polyps can generally be classified into hyperplastic polyps and adenomatous polyps. Only adenomatous polyps have the potential to undergo malignant transformation, and the risk of cancer development is related to the size of the adenomatous polyps. It is necessary for your polyps...[Read More] Understanding Colorectal Polyps: Symptoms, Risks, and Treatment Options
Understanding Cardia Polyps: Risks, Symptoms, and Follow-Up Care
There are polyps in the cardia? Body condition: weight 47-48 kg, height 156 cm, bowel movements 1-3 times/day. In November of last year, due to excessive gas and significant abdominal bloating, I had to rely on belching and passing gas for relief. I consulted a doctor, and after ...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
Your polyp may be a hyperplastic polyp, which has a low risk of transforming into cancer. You can follow up every six months. If you do not wish to undergo an endoscopy, you may consider a polypectomy during the endoscopy. This is the response from Dr. Yang Guojun, a gastroentero...[Read More] Understanding Cardia Polyps: Risks, Symptoms, and Follow-Up Care
Essential Blood Tests for Hepatitis B Carriers: A Guide
Hepatitis B Dear Dr. Yang: I am a healthy carrier of hepatitis B and would like to have my liver function tested every three months. What specific tests should I include? Besides large hospitals, where else can I get these tests done? Also, what is serum alpha-fetoprotein?
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
Please follow up every 3 to 6 months with a liver ultrasound and monitor the serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, commonly known as the liver cancer marker, for patients in specific high-risk groups. This long-term monitoring can be conducted at any gastroenterology and hepatolo...[Read More] Essential Blood Tests for Hepatitis B Carriers: A Guide
Understanding Chronic Hepatitis B: Key Questions and Answers
Hepatitis B-related issues? Dear Dr. Yang, I discovered an abnormal result in my hepatitis B screening during a health check-up. The results are as follows: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) - Positive; Hepatitis B surface antibody (Anti-HBs) - Negative. The doctor informed me...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
Antigens refer to foreign or internal pathogens or substances that trigger the production of antibodies in an organism. HBsAb (Hepatitis B surface antibody) is an antibody produced by the body in response to the invasion of an antigen; it is a type of immunoglobulin. For example,...[Read More] Understanding Chronic Hepatitis B: Key Questions and Answers
When Is Liver Biopsy Necessary for Chronic Liver Disease Patients?
Liver biopsy Which liver disease patients (carriers) need to undergo a liver biopsy? Is the risk level high? What is the approximate cost? If the patient requests it, will the doctor perform the procedure?
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
Liver biopsy is only necessary for undiagnosed liver diseases such as liver tumors or non-B and C hepatitis. The risk is not high, but physicians do not perform liver biopsies lightly unless absolutely necessary. Health insurance can cover this cost, as stated by Dr. Yang Guojun,...[Read More] When Is Liver Biopsy Necessary for Chronic Liver Disease Patients?
Understanding Hepatitis B: Prevention and Vaccination for Children in Taiwan
Hepatitis B The prevalence of hepatitis B among the population causes considerable concern. Children who stay and eat outside often may have received the vaccine in childhood, but does this guarantee they will never contract hepatitis B? What preventive measures should be taken? ...
Dr. Yang Guojun reply Internal Medicine
The hepatitis B vaccine is effective for ten years. If your child is over 10 years old, please have their blood tested for HBsAg and HBsAb to determine if they still have immunity against hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is not easily transmitted through food, but the incidence of liver ...[Read More] Understanding Hepatitis B: Prevention and Vaccination for Children in Taiwan