Week 1: Definition of Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is one of the three most common forms of the Hepatitis viruses. The most common definition of Hepatitis B can be found in Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary.

According to Taber’s Medical Dictionary, Hepatitis B is an inflammation of the cells of the liver that is caused by the hepatitis b virus (HBV). Hepatitis B virus is “a double-stranded DNA virus” (Taber’s, p 932). The inflammation of the cells injures the cells. The injury of the cells can show up as follows:

·      Acute inflammation: can last up to 6 months, but does goes away

·      Chronic inflammation: Lasts 6 months or longer, but doesn’t go away

·      Asymptomatic inflammation: Shows no signs or symptoms of the disease

·      Fulminant inflammation:  The deteriorization into hepatic encephalopathy within 8 weeks from the start of the disease process.

References

Venes, Donald, Clayton L. Thomas, and Clarence Wilber Taber. Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary.  19^th ed, p.932. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis, 2001. Print.