Outcome from Hepatitis B

1. Development of immunity to HBV 

Almost 95 per cent of infected adults develop antibodies and recover within six months. Upon recovery, they develop immunity to the virus and they are not infectious to others. Blood tests will always test positive for the HBV antibody. 

2. HBV Carriers

HBV carriers recover from the infection completely and are healthy. They have no ongoing Hepatitis or liver damage. However, their blood tests show they still have the virus and have not developed Hepatitis B antibodies. Therefore, they can pass on the virus. They are called HBV carriers. Because carriers do not develop symptoms or feel sick, many never even know it. There is no treatment presently available for this situation. Carriers have a responsibility to practice safe lifestyle habits that will prevent their passing the virus on to others. 

3. Chronic Hepatitis B

Chronic infection occurs in : 

90 per cent of infants infected at birth. 
30 per cent of children infected at age 1-5 years. 
6 per cent of persons infected after age 5 years. 

Blood tests show that no antibodies have developed. Chronically infected people may or may not show outward signs or symptoms. The HBV virus remains in blood and body fluids, and can infect others. Like HBV carriers, chronic Hepatitis B patients can pass on HBV. However, there is a very important difference. Chronically infected patients will also have ongoing Hepatitis and liver damage. A few may have an increased risk for developing cancer of the liver. Death from chronic liver disease occurs in 15-25 per cent of chronically infected persons. 

Physicians usually suspect the condition when abnormal enzyme levels are found on routine blood testing. There are rarely any symptoms in the early stages of chronic Hepatitis B. Additional tests such as ultrasound are helpful to determine the condition of the liver. A liver biopsy may be performed to extract a small piece of liver for examining under a microscope and determining the degree of inflammation and scarring.

Hepatitis B
Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatitis B
Outcome from Hepatitis B
Preventing HBV Infection
Things not to do for Hepatitis B