Hepatitis B is a disease caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Infection with this virus can cause scarring of the liver, liver failure, liver cancer, and death. Symptoms include: feeling sick; lack of appetite; flu-like symptoms, such as tiredness, general aches and pains and headaches; or yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice). In adults, hepatitis B is usually sudden and short-lived (acute), but sometimes the infection may also be long-term (chronic) and without any noticeable symptoms. If babies and children younger than 5–10 years are infected, chronic hepatitis is more common, whereas it is unusual after infection in adults.