Chronic hepatitis B

Chronic hepatitis B is a common type of hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is characterized by a slow onset, and is more common in subclinical and chronic forms. Acute non-jaundice-type HBsAg persistently positive is prone to chronicization. Chronic hepatitis often lasts for more than six months and can be hidden, often found during physical examination. Symptoms are diverse and recurrent or unresolved. It is estimated that 5% to 10% of patients with acute hepatitis B become chronic hepatitis. The chronicity of acute hepatitis B mainly depends on the age of the initial infection, the immune status, and the virus level. Infant infections are prone to become chronic. Patients who use immunosuppressive drugs and cytotoxic drugs, and patients with chronic renal failure with hemodialysis often lack obvious acute manifestations and prolonged disease. Patients with high serum levels of viral replication markers (HBeAg, HBV DNA) are more likely to develop chronic hepatitis.