Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis b virus (HBV). It ranges in severity from a mild illness, lasting a few weeks (acute), to a serious long-term (chronic) illness that can lead to liver disease or liver cancer. About 90-95% of people who are infected are able to fight off the virus so their infection never becomes chronic. About two-thirds of these people do not themselves get sick or die of the virus, but they can transmit it to other people. Only about 5-10 percent of adults infected with HBV go on to develop chronic (ongoing, long-term) hepatitis b, which can be very serious. Chronic infection is one that lasts longer than 6 months. Once the infection becomes chronic, it may never go away completely.

What are Symptoms?

About 50% of people infected with hepatitis b have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually develop within 30-180 days of exposure to the virus. Some of the symptoms are often compared to those of the flu virus.

Appetite loss
Extreme fatigue
Nausea and vomiting
Itching parts of the body
Dark colored urine
Pale colored stool
Jaundice - A condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow in color

Testing

The Hepatitis B Surface Antigen test is a blood test used to detect the hepatitis b virus. This test is the earliest indicator of the presence of acute infection. It is also indicative of chronic infection.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hepatitis B.

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