Answer:
Explanation:This could be because not everyone who is infected with the hepatitis B virus will necessarily develop symptoms or complications from the infection. Some individuals may be carriers of the virus and have the ability to transmit it to others without showing any signs of illness themselves. Additionally, some people may have effective immune responses that can keep the virus in check and prevent it from causing severe liver damage. Therefore, not all individuals with the hepatitis B virus will develop hepatitis B disease.
Answer:
The distinction between acute and chronic hepatitis B infection lies in the immune system's ability to clear the virus. During an acute infection, the immune system is typically able to eliminate the hepatitis B virus in about 90% of adult cases, allowing the person to recover fully and develop immunity to future infections. However, in some cases, particularly when infection occurs at a younger age, the immune system fails to clear the virus, and the infection becomes chronic. Infants infected at birth have a 90% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B, while children infected between 1-5 years old have a 20-50% risk. For adults, the risk of chronic infection is much lower, at 5-10%. Those with chronic hepatitis B can live with the infection for decades without showing symptoms, but they remain at risk of developing serious liver diseases like cirrhosis or liver cancer over time. In the scenario provided, the 4 people who had the virus in their blood but were not suffering from the disease were likely in the acute phase, while the 6 people who were suffering from the disease were in the chronic phase, where their bodies were unable to clear the virus on their own.