What should you know about chronic viral hepatitis B?

The virus can remain in the body for a long time. Some people feel well while liver inflammation is still present, which is why symptoms alone cannot show how active the infection is. A clinician may assess the infection with blood tests, liver checks and, when needed, imaging. Fatigue or dark urine can occur, but their absence does not rule out hepatitis B.

Long-term inflammation may scar the liver and affect how it performs its normal jobs. The level of activity can change, so follow-up is useful even after a quiet period.

Arrange an appointment with a clinician familiar with liver conditions. Ask which blood tests are needed and whether a Liver Function Test (/treatments/diagnostics-and-screening/liver-function-test/) is part of the plan. Keep follow-up appointments, take prescribed medicines as directed, and discuss alcohol, supplements and other medicines before using them.

Avoid sharing razors, toothbrushes or needles, and cover open cuts. Household and sexual contacts can ask about Hepatitis B Vaccination (/treatments/preventive-care-and-vaccination/hepatitis-b-vaccination/). A fuller overview is available under Hepatitis B (/conditions/hepatitis-b/).

Seek urgent medical help for yellowing of the skin or eyes, new confusion, vomiting blood, black stools, severe abdominal swelling, or marked drowsiness. Contact a clinician soon if dark urine (/symptoms/dark-urine/) or persistent fatigue (/symptoms/fatigue/) develops, especially if you already have hepatitis B.

Ask whether the infection is active, how often your liver should be checked, whether treatment is appropriate, and which household or sexual contacts need testing or vaccination.