Lexic.us

Definition of Hepatitis B

1. Noun. An acute (sometimes fatal) form of viral hepatitis caused by a DNA virus that tends to persist in the blood serum and is transmitted by sexual contact or by transfusion or by ingestion of contaminated blood or other bodily fluids.

Definition of Hepatitis B

1. Noun. an acute form of hepatitis, transmitted by blood, sexual contact, and body fluids. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Medical Definition of Hepatitis B

1. A form of viral hepatitis, known as serum hepatitis, because it is commonly spread through contact with infected blood products (transfusion). May also be spread sexually or from mother to infant. Hepatitis B can cause a much more severe infection than hepatitis A and can occur as an asymptomatic carrier state, a chronic infection or as cirrhosis of the liver. Those at risk (IV drug abusers, health care workers, dialysis patients, transfusion recipients, homosexuals) should be immunised with hepatitis B vaccine. The virus is 42nm diameter, with an outer sheath enclosing inner 27nm core particle containing the circular viral DNA. Aggregates of the envelope proteins are found in plasma and are referred to as hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg, previously called Australia antigen). The virus can persist for long periods (and in asymptomatic carriers), association of integrated virus with hepatocellular carcinoma is now well established. (27 Sep 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Hepatitis B

Literary usage of Hepatitis B

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The ABCs of Safe & Healthy Child Care: A Handbook for Child Care Providers by Cynthia M. Hale, Jacqueline A. Polder (2000)
"hepatitis B in the Child Care Setting hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the ... However, hepatitis B is a much more serious infection. ..."

2. Biosafety in the Laboratory: Prudent Practices for the Handling and Disposal by National Research Council (U. S.) (1989)
"Mechanisms of maternal-fetal transmission of hepatitis B virus. ... hepatitis B virus in peritoneal dialysis fluid: A potential hazard. ..."

3. Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion & Disease Prevention by DIANE Publishing Company (2004)
"19.7* Reduce sexually transmitted hepatitis B infection to no more than 30500 ... Nationwide, the incidence of hepatitis B has increased steadily over the ..."

4. Guide To Clinical Preventive Services by U. S. Preventive Services Task Force (1989)
"... sexual, or mucosal exposure to hepatitis B.1611 Combined HBIG plus hepatitis В vaccine is over 90% effective in preventing perinatal transmission (see ..."

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