Per the CDC:
Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by HBV. HBV is transmitted when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is uninfected. Hepatitis B can range from a mild, short-term, acute illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, long-term, chronic infection.
The type of hepatitis B you have depends on how long you have had the virus in your body, the health of your liver, and other factors. A blood test will indicate which one you have.
Acute hepatitis B
Acute hepatitis B is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after exposure to HBV. Some people with acute hepatitis B have no symptoms or only a mild illness. For others, acute hepatitis B can cause a more severe illness that requires hospitalization.
Fast facts about acute hepatitis B
In 2022, 52% of all acute hepatitis B cases were people ages 40–59 years.
The rate of newly reported acute hepatitis B cases remained stable during 2022.
Rates of acute hepatitis B were highest among non-Hispanic Black people.
Rates of acute hepatitis B were highest in states in or near the Appalachian region.
Chronic hepatitis B
Acute hepatitis B can lead to a lifelong infection known as chronic hepatitis B. Left untreated, chronic hepatitis B can cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death.
Fast facts about chronic hepatitis B
CDC estimates that about 640,000 adults in the US have chronic (long-term) hepatitis B.
In 2022, the highest rate of chronic hepatitis B was in non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander people.
In 2022, the rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases was 11 times higher among non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander persons than among non-Hispanic White people.
To learn more visit: Hepatitis B Basics | Hepatitis B | CDC
