Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Chronic HBV infection is a major cause of cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and is estimated to have caused 820,000 deaths in 2019. In chronic hepatitis B (CHB) cases, 20–30% of patients develop cirrhosis and HCC as complications. 

Acute HBV infections are usually asymptomatic, and only 30–50% of individuals aged five years or above display signs and symptoms. If present, symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, clay-colored bowel movements, dark urine, abdominal pain, joint pain, and jaundice. On rare occasions, acute infection can lead to fulminant hepatitis. The majority of individuals with chronic infection are asymptomatic and have no apparent signs of liver disease, while in some people infection will progress to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, or HCC. 

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