Hepatitis

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Hepatitis is a general term for an inflammation of the liver, whether cused by a virus, toxic substances or immunological abnormalities.

Infectious hepatitis, the type caused by viruses, may be classified as hepatitis A, hepatitis B or non-A, non-B hepatitis. Hepatitis A is usually transmitted via food or drink infected by a sufferer or carrier of the disease.

Hepatitis B (serum hepatitis) and non-A, non-B hepatitis are usually transmitted via infected blood or blood products. They may thus be passed by unsafe sexual practices, tattooing, hypodermic needles (especially among drug addicts) or blood transfusions.

Persistent infection by a virus, chronic hepatitis, often causes cirrhosis of the liver.

For a detailed description of the virus family, and their various medical implications, see the Wikipedia article on hepatitis.

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