What is hepatitis and its causes?

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What is hepatitis and its causes?

Hepatitis refers to an inflammatory condition of the liver. It is commonly the result of a viral infection, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis. These include autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis that occurs as a secondary result of medications, drugs, toxins, and alcohol.

What virus causes hepatitis?

In the United States, viral hepatitis is most commonly caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). These three viruses can all result in acute disease with symptoms of nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, malaise, and jaundice.

How does hepatitis affect the body?

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected….What is Viral Hepatitis?

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Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C
Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C

Who is at high risk for hepatitis A?

All children at age 1, or older children who didn’t receive the childhood vaccine. Anyone age 1 year or older who is experiencing homelessness. Infants ages 6 to 11 months traveling internationally. Family and caregivers of adoptees from countries where hepatitis A is common.

How do you test for hepatitis?

Tests that can help diagnose hepatitis B or its complications are:

  1. Blood tests. Blood tests can detect signs of the hepatitis B virus in your body and tell your doctor whether it’s acute or chronic.
  2. Liver ultrasound. A special ultrasound called transient elastography can show the amount of liver damage.
  3. Liver biopsy.

How does hepatitis affect the human body?

Can hepatitis Be Cured?

There is no cure for hepatitis A, but treatment can help manage symptoms. Avoiding alcohol can help with recovery, but most people recover without intervention.

What can I do to prevent hepatitis A?

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Practice good personal hygiene. Because so many cases of hepatitis A are due to close contact with an infected person,you should always practice good personal hygiene,especially by washing

  • Be careful in high-risk situations. Boil water or drink bottled water in areas where there is a risk for hepatitis A contamination.
  • Get vaccinated.

    • What is the most dangerous form of hepatitis?

    Of the viral causes of hepatitis, hepatitis A, B, and C are the most common. There are also two other forms known as hepatitis D and hepatitis E. Hepatitis C is the most serious of the more common viral types, says Dr. Gulati.

    What type of hepatitis is most deadly?

    Hepatitis C is the most serious of the more common viral types, says Dr. Gulati. Hepatitis C causes more than 16,000 U.S. deaths annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “About 85 percent of hepatitis C infections lead to chronic liver disease,” Gulati says.

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