| Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, which can be | | | | Hepatitis. The virus replicates in the liver of the host. |
| caused by viruses, medications, or toxic agents. | | | | With hepatitis B, the liver also swells. Hepatitis B can |
| Hepatitis known as an inflammation of the liver , is a | | | | be a serious infection that can cause liver damage, |
| gastroenterological disease. Hepatitis is generally | | | | which may result in cancer. Some people are not able |
| categorized as a viral or non-viral hepatitis. Viral | | | | to get rid of the virus, which makes the infection |
| hepatitis can be considered "rapid" a position that | | | | chronic, or life long. Blood banks test all donated blood |
| comes on frequently with severe symptoms and for | | | | for hepatitis B, greatly reducing the risk for getting |
| a short time or "chronic" a position that comes on | | | | the virus from blood transfusions or blood products. |
| slowly, may or may not have symptoms for a long | | | | Hepatitis C is also passed on through contaminated |
| time. | | | | blood and is similar to hepatitis B, but it is caused by |
| Viral infections are the cause of most acute Hepatitis. | | | | a different type of virus. Infection with the hepatitis |
| Hepatitis comes in 7 not so delicious flavours: | | | | C virus (HCV) is the number-one reason for liver |
| Hepatitis A, B, C, D - Agent (which requires the | | | | transplant in the U.S. Unlike hepatitis A and B, there is |
| presence of the hepatitis B virus to form), Hepatitis | | | | no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. |
| E, F, and G. None of these are very yummy, and | | | | Two other hepatitis viruses are known, hepatitis D |
| should be avoided at all costs. | | | | and E. The D agent, an RNA passenger virus, cannot |
| When most people refer to hepatitis, they are | | | | proliferate without the presence of hepatitis B virus, |
| probably talking about viral hepatitis, which is classified | | | | because its genome lacks certain essential genes. |
| into several types. Hepatitis A, which is very common | | | | Hepatitis E produces a picture quite similar to hepatitis |
| in underdeveloped countries, is acquired from water | | | | A, although it can take a fulminant course in some |
| or food sources. This type of hepatitis is usually mild | | | | patients, particularly pregnant women; it is more |
| and may sometimes be discovered only by blood | | | | prevalent in the Indian subcontinent. Hepatitis D is |
| testing. Hepatitis A never leads to chronic liver | | | | caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV). It occurs only |
| disease. | | | | in people who have hepatitis B. Hepatitis E is caused |
| Hepatitis A is a highly infectious disease caused by | | | | by the hepatitis E virus (HEV), which can be found in |
| Enterovirus referred to as Hepatitis A Virus(HAV) and | | | | the stool (bowel movements) of infected people. It is |
| the incubation period for this disease is about 2 - 8 | | | | uncommon in the United States but is a risk to |
| weeks and the disease is called Short Incubation | | | | international travelers. |