How long can you have hepatitis B without knowing?

Many people with Hepatitis B have no symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms occur with acute infection, they usually appear within 3 months of exposure and can last anywhere from 2–12 weeks. Symptoms of chronic Hepatitis B can take up to 30 years to develop.


Can hepatitis B go undetected for years?

A Dangerous Disease

A chronic hepatitis B infection can go undetected for years – even decades in many cases. The longer a hepatitis B infection is left untreated, the more susceptible you are to developing severe scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) and liver cancer.

How long does it take for hepatitis B to show up?

How soon after exposure to the hepatitis B virus will symptoms appear, and how long do they last? If symptoms occur, they begin an average of 90 days (or 3 months) after exposure to the virus, but they can appear any time between 8 weeks and 5 months after exposure.


How long can you live with untreated hepatitis B?

Chronic hepatitis B infection lasts six months or longer. It lingers because your immune system can't fight off the infection. Chronic hepatitis B infection may last a lifetime, possibly leading to serious illnesses such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.

How do you know you no longer have hepatitis B?

A simple blood test can let a person know if the hepatitis B virus is in their blood or if they have successfully gotten rid of the virus. The doctor should periodically test your blood over the six-month period to monitor the health of your liver and check progress towards recovery.


Hepatitis B : What You Need to Know



Can your body fight off Hep B on its own?

In 90% of persons who become infected as adults with hepatitis B, the immune system successfully fights off the infection during the acute phase — the virus is cleared from the body within 6 months, the liver heals completely, and the person becomes immune to hepatitis B infection for the rest of their life.

How does hepatitis B make you feel?

Hepatitis B is called a "silent infection" because most people do not have any symptoms when they are first infected. Thus, they can unknowingly pass the virus to others and continue the silent spread of hepatitis B. Testing is the only way to know for sure if you are infected.

Can inactive hepatitis B become active?

In addition, approximately 20 to 30% of persons in the inactive HBsAg carrier state may undergo spontaneous reactivation of hepatitis B during follow-up [29,33,34,40]. Multiple episodes of reactivation or sustained reactivation can cause progressive hepatic damage and even hepatic decompensation.


Can I live a normal life with hepatitis B?

The most important thing to remember is that hepatitis B is a chronic medical condition (such as diabetes and high blood pressure) that can be successfully managed if you take good care of your health and your liver. You should expect to live a long, full life.

What is the main cause of hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is irritation and swelling of the liver from infection with the hepatitis B virus. Infection can spread through contact with the blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and other body fluids of someone who already has the disease.

What are the warning signs of hepatitis?

Symptoms of hepatitis can include: fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools, joint pain, and jaundice.


Can you test positive for hepatitis B and not have it?

If the “HBsAg” was positive, this means that you are either chronically infected with hepatitis B or were recently infected. If only the “anti-HBc” was positive, it is most likely that you either had a “false-positive” test or are immune to hepatitis B infection (had hepatitis B infec- tion sometime in the past).

How long can hepatitis B lay dormant?

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis B? Many people with Hepatitis B have no symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms occur with acute infection, they usually appear within 3 months of exposure and can last anywhere from 2–12 weeks. Symptoms of chronic Hepatitis B can take up to 30 years to develop.

Can hepatitis B be hidden?

Most people who have Hepatitis B do not know they have it. The disease does not always cause symptoms. Hepatitis B can stay hidden in the body. Many people can live with Hepatitis B for 20 years without feeling sick.


What are the 3 stages of hepatitis B?

The entire illness of acute hepatitis B sequentially passes through three phases, namely prodromal phase, icteric phase and convalescence phase. The prodromal phase is characterized by MARKED LOSS OF APPETITE, and other flu‐like symptoms such as low‐grade fever, nausea and vomiting, and lasts for a few days.

How long can you love hepatitis B?

Most people chronically infected with hepatitis B can expect to live long and healthy lives. Individuals with chronic HBV may not develop symptoms for up to 30 years.

Can hepatitis B become negative?

About half of patients will no longer be infectious by 7 weeks after onset of symptoms, and all patients who do not remain chronically infected will be HBsAg-negative by 15 weeks after onset of symptoms (12).


Is hepatitis B something to worry about?

For many people, hepatitis B is a short-term illness. For others, it can become a long-term, chronic infection that can lead to serious, even life-threatening health issues like cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Which organ is most affected by Hep B?

Hepatitis B (HBV) is a virus that attacks the liver. It causes the liver to become inflamed (swollen). Over time, the liver can become badly damaged. A diseased liver does not work well.

Is hepatitis B spread by kissing?

No. Hepatitis B is not spread through touching or saliva. You can only get hepatitis B from infected blood or specific body fluids.


How do you flush out hepatitis B?

Usually for adults, hepatitis B goes away on its own and you won't need treatment. Your doctor might tell you to rest, eat well, and get plenty of fluids. You may also get medicines to help with any symptoms you might have — but be sure to talk with your doctor or nurse before taking anything.

Can hepatitis B be cured if caught early?

There is no cure or medication that totally eliminates the virus or makes HBsAg negative, but there is hope. There are approved therapies for hepatitis B and many in development. First-line therapies in the U.S. and globally are entecavir, tenofovir (TDF) and tenofovir (TAF), which are antivirals.

Is hepatitis B very serious?

Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is a major global health problem. It can cause chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.


What does untreated hepatitis look like?

If left untreated, the infection can eventually cause the liver to become scarred (cirrhosis). Signs of cirrhosis can include jaundice, vomiting blood, dark stools and a build-up of fluid in the legs or abdomen.

What can be mistaken for hepatitis?

Hepatitis A (HAV) spreads when a person ingests food or beverages, including water, contaminated with stool containing the virus. Symptoms of infection are usually mild and can be mistaken for the flu – fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and loss of appetite.