Hepatitis B is a viral infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). This virus is capable of causing life-long infection, liver cirrhosis (scarring), liver failure, liver cancer, and death.

As mentioned above the cause of Hepatitis B is the virus- HBV. The virus spreads when blood from an infected person enters the body of a non-infected person. This virus enters the bloodstream and reaches the liver where it reproduces and releases large numbers of new viruses into the bloodstream. HBV can survive outside the body for at least 7 days and can still be capable of causing infection.

HBV is mainly found in the blood of infected individuals. Saliva, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk also contain the virus but in lower concentrations as compared to the blood. Feces, nasal secretions, sputum, sweat, tears, urine, and vomit have not been implicated in the spread of Hepatitis B. Unless they are visibly contaminated with blood, the risk of contracting hepatitis B from these fluids is practically nonexistent. Hepatitis B is not transmitted by casual contact, hugging, by sharing eating utensils, through food or water, etc.

After a person has been exposed to the HBV, the blood test (HBsAg) will become positive on an average of 4 weeks (range 1- 9 weeks). Usually, within 15 weeks of the onset of the symptoms, this test becomes negative in most individuals (except those who have developed chronic infection).

It must be noted that people of any age, sex, race or nationality can be infected by this virus.

Sometimes a person with HBV infection may not have any symptoms at all. In patients who do develop symptoms, they occur on an average of about 12 weeks (range 9-21 weeks) after exposure to the hepatitis B virus. About 70% of the patients develop symptoms of Hepatitis B. The symptoms include: