Chronic hepatitis B means you have life long infection. This happens if your immune system cannot get rid of the hepatitis B virus in a timely fashion, within 6 months. This usually happens if infection takes place in the very young (infection within the first year of life), and in those with weakened immune systems (such as those with kidney failure, HIV infection, or medicines that suppress the immune system such as steroids/prednisone and chemotherapy). The immune system has to come to a balance with the virus where the infection is controlled while trying not to do too much damage to the liver. Please note: we do not believe that there is such a thing as a "healthy carrier". To find out more, please check out our page on chronic hepatitis B infection.