What is the difference between acute and chronic hepatitis b infection?
When you are having symptoms for the first time, this is called acute hepatitis. Acute hepatitis lasts 6 weeks or less. Most people recover from the infection and have no long-lasting problems. Hepatitis B can become an illness that lasts a long time. This is called chronic hepatitis B. It lasts six months or longer. Chronic hepatitis occurs when the liver has been damaged from the acute illness and can’t recover. Chronic hepatitis develops in 10% to 20% of people who have hepatitis B.
