Many people who find out that they have the hepatitis B virus are afraid at first because they don’t know what to expect. If you know how the hepatitis B virus will affect your health and your life, you can deal with it better.
If you test positive for the hepatitis B virus, one of the first things your doctor will tell you is whether you have acute hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis B.
If you have acute hepatitis B, it is generally not that serious. It will last from a few weeks to a few months. Most adults with acute infection will fully recover and not have any lasting health problems.
If you have chronic hepatitis B, it can lead to more serious liver disease, including liver cancer.1 Some 15 to 25% of people with chronic hepatitis B will eventually die from complications of the infection.1 You should not automatically think this will happen to you, but you should ask your doctor if you are at risk for serious liver disease.
If you do have chronic hepatitis B, it is important to visit your doctor regularly to check the health of your liver.
Your GP may also refer you to a specialist (usually a gastroenterologist, hepatologist or infectious disease physician) for review and management of your hepatitis.
