Hepatitis B is an infectious illness of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) that affects apes, including humans. It was originally known as "serum hepatitis"<br>See also : [[Infectious Diseases]]
== Symptoms ==
Many people have no symptoms during the initial infection. Some develop an acute illness with vomiting, yellow skin, dark urine and abdominal pain. Often these symptoms last a few weeks and rarely result in death. It may take 30 to 180 days for symptoms to begin. Less than 10% of those infected develop chronic hepatitis B. In those with chronic disease cirrhosis and liver cancer may eventually develop.