Those infected with HBV will exhibit one of three disease states. They can be either asymptomatic, have an acute illness, or have chronic illnesses.
Symptoms typically arise 60 to 150 days after exposure to the virus. Once these symptoms manifest, they usually last from several weeks or upwards of 6 months.
The acute phase of infection with HBV typically causes mild symptoms or may even be asymptomatic. On occasion, it can result in a more severe fulminant hepatitis. The disease tends to be more severe for older patients (60 years or older). Fatality is low for those with acute HBV, with a 0.9% mortality rate according to the CDC in 2015. Persons with chronic HBV infection can have varying severity ranging from no evidence of liver disease to cirrhosis or even liver cancer.
