Knowra Hepatitis B Hepatitis B Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can resolve within months or persist as a chronic infection that may cause cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Hepatitis B virus : A DNA virus that infects liver cells and causes hepatitis B. Its life cycle in liver cells underlies both acute illness and long-term persistence.
Hepatitis B vaccine : A vaccine that induces immunity against HBV using hepatitis B surface antigen. Vaccination prevents infection and is especially effective when given soon after birth.
Chronic hepatitis B : HBV infection that persists for at least six months. Persistence changes the risks, monitoring needs, and treatment decisions compared with acute infection.
Baruch Blumberg : American physician and geneticist who identified the Australia antigen, later recognized as hepatitis B surface antigen. His discovery provided the key marker that led to identifying HBV.
Hepatitis A : An acute liver infection caused by hepatitis A virus, usually spread through contaminated food or water. Unlike HBV, hepatitis A does not cause chronic infection and is primarily transmitted by the fecal–oral route.
Hepatitis B serology : The interpretation of blood markers that indicate HBV infection, immunity, and disease activity. Distinct markers can show whether infection is current, resolved, or prevented by vaccination.
Hepatitis B screening : Testing people without known HBV infection to identify current infection or immunity. Screening detects silent infection early enough for monitoring, treatment, and transmission prevention.
Hepatitis B-related cirrhosis : Advanced liver scarring caused by long-term HBV-related inflammation and injury. Cirrhosis is a major consequence of uncontrolled chronic infection.
Australia antigen : The historical name for hepatitis B surface antigen, first detected in the blood of an Australian Aboriginal person. Its identification opened the path to diagnosing and characterizing hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C : A liver infection caused by hepatitis C virus, often transmitted through blood exposure. Both can become chronic, but hepatitis C has no vaccine and is curable with direct-acting antivirals.
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