| autoimmune hepatitis | <pathology> A type of chronic active hepatitis that results from circulating auto-antibodies and chronic inflammation of the liver. Symptoms are those of chronic active hepatitis. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| vaccination, hepatitis a | When immediate protection against hepatitis a (infectious hepatitis) is needed, immunoglobulins are used. Protection is effective only if given within 2 weeks of exposure and lasts but 2-4 months. Immunoglobulins can be used to protect household contacts of someone with acute viral hepatitis and travelers to regions with poor sanitation and high hepatitis a rates, when the traveler has to depart sooner than the vaccines can take effect (about 2 weeks). Travelers can receive the immunoglobulin and vaccine simultaneously and be protected immediately and for longer term. When immediate protection is not needed, hepatitis a vaccines are considered for individuals in high-risk settings, including frequent world travelers, sexually active individuals with multiple partners, homosexual men, individuals using illicit drugs, employees of daycare centres, and certain health care workers, and sewage workers. Two hepatitis a vaccines called havrix and vaqta are commercially available in the u.s. Both are highly effective and provide protection even after only one dose. Two doses are recommended for adults and 3 doses for children (under 18 years of age) to provide prolonged protection. (12 Dec 1998) |
| vaccination, hepatitis b | Hepatits B (hep B) vaccine gives prolonged protection, but 3 shots over a half year are usually required. In the u.s., all infants receive hep b vaccine. Two vaccines (engerix-b, and recombivax-hb) are available in the us. The first dose of hep b vaccine is frequently given while the newborn is in the hospital or at the first doctor visit following birth. The second dose is given about 30 days after the initial dose. A booster dose is performed approximately six months later. Babies born to mothers testing positive for hep b receive, in addition, hbig (hep b immune globulin) for prompt protection. Older children (11-12 years) are advised to receive a hep b booster as are adults in high-risk situations including healthcare workers, dentists, intimate and household contacts of patients with chronic hep b infection, male homosexuals, individuals with multiple sexual partners, dialysis patients, iv drug users, and recipients of repeated transfusions. Health care workers accidentally exposed to materials infected with hep b (such as needle sticks), and individuals with known sexual contact with hep b patients are available in the u.s. Both are highly effective and provide protection even after only one dose. Two doses are recommended for adults and 3 doses for children (under 18 years of age) to provide prolonged protection. Vaccination, hepatitis b: hepatits b (hep b) vaccine gives prolonged protection, but 3 shots over a half year are usually required. In the u.s., all infants receive hep b vaccine. Two vaccines (engerix-b, and recombivax-hb) are available in the us. The first dose of hep b vaccine is frequently given while the newborn is in the hospital or at the first doctor visit following birth. The second dose is given about 30 days after the initial dose. A booster dose is performed approximately six months later. Babies born to mothers testing positive for hep b receive, in addition, hbig (hep b immune globulin) for prompt protection. Older children (11-12 years) are advised to receive a hep b booster as are adults in high-risk situations including healthcare workers, dentists, intimate and household contacts of patients with chronic hep b infection, male homosexuals, individuals with multiple sexual partners, dialysis patients, iv drug users, and recipients of repeated transfusions. Health care workers accidentally exposed to materials infected with hep b (such as needle sticks), and individuals with known sexual contact with hep b patients are usually given both hbig and vaccine to provide immediate and long term protection. (12 Dec 1998) |
| vaccination, infectious hepatitis | See Vaccination, hepatitis a. (12 Dec 1998) |
| vaccineation, serum hepatitis | See Vaccination, hepatitis b. (12 Dec 1998) |
| giant cell hepatitis | Hepatitis in the neonatal period presumed to be due to a variety of causes, chiefly viral; characterised by direct and indirect bilirubinaemia, hepatocellular degeneration, and appearance of multinucleated giant cells; may be difficult to distinguish from biliary atresia, but is more likely to end with recovery, although cirrhosis may develop. Synonym: giant cell hepatitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| viral hepatitis | Liver inflammation caused by viruses. Specific hepatitis viruses have been labelled a, b, c, d, e, f, and g. While other viruses can also cause hepatitis, their primary target is not the liver. (12 Dec 1998) |
| viral hepatitis type A | A virus disease with a short incubation period (usually 15 to 50 days), caused by hepatitis A virus, a member of the family Picornaviridae, often transmitted by faecal-oral route; may be inapparent, mild, severe, or occasionally fatal and occurs sporadically or in epidemics, commonly in school-age children and young adults; necrosis of periportal liver cells with lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltration is characteristic and jaundice is a common symptom. Synonym: epidemic hepatitis, hepatitis A, infectious hepatitis, MS-1 hepatitis, short incubation hepatitis, virus A hepatitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| viral hepatitis type B | 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) |
| viral hepatitis type C | Principal cause of non-A, non-B posttransfusion hepatitis caused by an RNA virus that may be related to Flaviviridae family. Synonym: hepatitis C, virus C hepatitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| viral hepatitis type D | Acute or chronic hepatitis caused by the hepatitis delta virus, a defective RNA virus requiring HBV for replication. The acute type occurs in two forms: 1) coinfection, the simultaneous occurrence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis delta virus infections, which usually is self-limiting; 2) superinfection, the appearance of hepatitis delta virus infection in a hepatitis B virus carrier, which often leads to chronic hepatitis The chronic type appears to be more severe than other types of viral hepatitis. Synonym: delta hepatitis, hepatitis D. (05 Mar 2000) |
| viral hepatitis type E | Hepatitis caused by a nonenveloped, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus 27-34 nm in diameter, unrelated to other hepatitis; it is the principal cause of enterically transmitted, waterborne, epidemic NANB hepatitis occurring primarily in Asia and Africa. Synonym: hepatitis E. (05 Mar 2000) |
| viral hepatitis vaccines | Any vaccine raised against any virus or viral derivative that causes hepatitis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| virus A hepatitis | A virus disease with a short incubation period (usually 15 to 50 days), caused by hepatitis A virus, a member of the family Picornaviridae, often transmitted by faecal-oral route; may be inapparent, mild, severe, or occasionally fatal and occurs sporadically or in epidemics, commonly in school-age children and young adults; necrosis of periportal liver cells with lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltration is characteristic and jaundice is a common symptom. Synonym: epidemic hepatitis, hepatitis A, infectious hepatitis, MS-1 hepatitis, short incubation hepatitis, virus A hepatitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| virus B hepatitis | 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) |