For some individuals, hepatitis B resolves on its own, but the outcome largely depends on the age at which infection occurs. Adults typically develop an acute, short-term infection that the immune system can clear within about six months. If the virus remains beyond that period, it becomes chronic, often persisting for life—especially in those infected during infancy or early childhood. The majority of persons with chronic hepatitis B may remain asymptomatic for 20 or 30 years.
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