Chronic Hepatitis B
- Chronic hepatitis B is a persistent infection lasting longer than 6 months (HBsAG is present for 6 months or more)
- Most people who develop chronic hepatitis B remain well with no damage to the liver. This is called being a "carrier". Carriers can be infectious and can pass the virus onto others
- Some people may develop persistent liver inflammation
- Some people may develop fibrosis (scarring of the liver) or cirrhosis (advanced scarring of the liver) which takes years to develop and can lead to liver failure and cancer
