A virus is a very small germ which is spread from person to person. Viruses are different from bacteria which are larger and cannot be treated with antibiotics. Inflammation can also be caused by drinking too much alcohol, the side effects of some drugs and chemicals and a liver disease called autoimmune hepatitis in which the body's immune system malfunctions and attacks the liver. The main difference between the viruses is how they are spread, the way they cause liver damage and the effects they can have on your health. Hepatitis B, sometimes referred to as hep B or HBV, is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus.
Many people never have any symptoms although they can pass on the infection.
6 months after the virus enters the body before any symptoms may appear. Adults usually notice a short flu-like illness which may include tiredness, aches and pains, nausea and loss of appetite. The virus may affect children differently. Contents Acute and chronic hepatitis B Hepatitis B can cause an acute or a chronic illness. An acute illness is one that gets better quickly, usually within weeks or at most a few months.