Hepatitis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Hepatitis B virus

Hepatitis C

Gianotti-Crosti syndrome on the leg

Hepatitis

Definition:

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The disease can be caused by:

Infections from parasites, bacteria, or viruses (such as hepatitis A, B, or C)
Liver damage from alcohol, drugs, or poisonous mushrooms
An overdose of acetaminophen, which is rare but deadly
Immune cells in the body attacking the liver and causing autoimmune hepatitis

text continues below

Other medications that can cause damage to the liver include methyldopa (used uncommonly for high blood pressure), isoniazide for tuberculosis, seizure medications (like valproate and phenytoin), chlorpromazine, amiodarone (for irregular heart rhythm), and certain antibiotics (including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and erythromycin). If you need to take any of these, your doctor will follow your liver function closely.

Liver disease can also be caused by inherited disorders such as cystic fibrosis and Wilson's disease, a condition that involves having too much copper in your body (the excess copper deposits in organs likethe liver).

Hepatitis may start and resolve quickly (acute hepatitis), or cause long-term disease (chronic hepatitis). In some instances, progressive liver damage, liver failure, or even liver cancer may result.

The severity of hepatitis depends on many factors, including the cause of the liver damage and any underlying illnesses you have. Hepatitis A, for example, is generally short-lived, not leading to chronic liver problems.

Common risk factors include:

Intravenous drug use
Overdosing on acetominophen -- the dose needed to cause damage is close to the effective dose, so be careful to take it only as directed -- DO NOT use if you already have underlying liver damage
Engaging in risky sexual behaviors (like having multiple sexual partners and unprotected intercourse)
Eating contaminated foods
Traveling to an area where certain diseases are common
Living in a nursing home or rehabilitation center
Having a family member who recently had hepatitis A
Using or abusing alcohol
Being an organ transplant recipient
Having HIV or AIDS
Having received a blood transfusion before 1990 (hepatitis C blood test was not available)
Being a newborn of a mother with hepatitis B or C (can be transmitted during delivery)
Being a healthcare worker, including dentist and dental hygienist, because of blood contact
Receiving a tattoo