Incidence of the disease varies from region to region but has been declining due to increasing use of the vaccine and universal immunization programs. In the year 2013, the incident rate was 0.5 per 100,000 (PHAC, published in 2016). In 2006, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) reported the incidence of HBV as 2.0 cases for every 100,000 or about 650 cases reported annually in Canada. The incubation period (the time between initial contact with the virus and onset of the disease) for hepatitis B ranges from 60 to 150 days, with symptoms beginning on average 90 days from exposure. How long does it take for hepatitis B to develop? Back to top These diseases and the viruses that cause them are not related to hepatitis B even though they also affect the liver. There are other kinds of viral hepatitis such as hepatitis A, hepatitis C, hepatitis D (delta), and hepatitis E. For example, the risk of an infant becoming a carrier is 90-95% whereas the risk of an adult becoming a carrier is 3-10%. The risk of becoming a chronic carrier is related inversely with a person's age when infected. At present, there is no way of curing carriers. This condition often progresses to cirrhosis and then, after 30 to 40 years, possibly to liver cancer. The remaining 30 percent of carriers experience continuous liver disease. Seventy percent of carriers develop chronic persistent hepatitis B. Their blood remains infected for months, years, sometimes for life. During the infection and recovery process, the liver may not function normally causing illness that affects the entire body.įor reasons that are not completely understood, 10 percent of people who develop hepatitis B become carriers of the disease. The body also produces antibodies which circulate in the blood to destroy the virus and protect against future infections of hepatitis B. White blood cells, which protect the body from infections, attack and destroy the infected liver cells. To combat the disease, the body has several defenses. Once in the liver, the virus reproduces and releases large numbers of new viruses into the bloodstream. Infections of hepatitis B occur only if the virus is able to enter the blood stream and reach the liver.
It is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is an infectious liver disease.
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