Hepatitis B virus

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Viral hepatitis continues to be a disease of major public health significance. Of the possible causative agents, hepatitis B virus apparently is the most complex and thus the most puzzling to many clinicians. What is the “window period” in relation to serologic testing for hepatitis B infection? How likely is development of a chronic carrier state after acute hepatitis B? What is appropriate use of the hepatitis B vaccine? These questions are among those answered in Dr Bredfeldt's broad summary of current understanding of hepatitis B diagnosis and prophylaxis.