chronic hepatitis [Gk, chronos, time, hēpar, liver, itis, inflammation] , a state in which symptoms of hepatitis continue for several months and may increase in severity. In some cases of hepatitis B, the patient may become a lifelong carrier of the antigen and may show prolonged evidence of the infection. See also alcoholic hepatitis, anicteric hepatitis, cholestatic hepatitis, hepatitis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, hepatitis E.
