|
Medical Definition of Viral hepatitis type B
1. A virus disease with a long incubation period (usually 50 to 160 days), caused by hepatitis B virus, a DNA virus and member of the family Hepadnoviridae, usually transmitted by injection of infected blood or blood derivatives or by use of contaminated needles, lancets, or other instruments; clinically and pathologically similar to viral hepatitis type A, but there is no cross-protective immunity; HBsAg is found in the serum and the hepatitis delta virus occurs in some patients. Synonym: hepatitis B, serum hepatitis, transfusion hepatitis, virus B hepatitis. (05 Mar 2000)