Hepatitis
The word hepatitis refers to any inflammation of the liver — the irritation or swelling of the liver cells from any cause.
It can be acute (inflammation of the liver that presents with sickness — jaundice, fever, vomiting) or chronic (inflammation of the liver that lasts more than six months, but essentially showing no symptoms).
Causes:
Usually caused by a group of viruses known as the “hepatotropic” (liver directed) viruses, including A, B, C, D and E.
Other viruses may also cause it, such as the varicella virus that causes chicken pox.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19 may injure the liver too.
Other causes include drugs and alcohol abuse, fat buildup in the liver (fatty liver hepatitis) or an autoimmune process in which a person’s body makes antibodies that attack the liver (autoimmune hepatitis).
Hepatitis is the only communicable disease where mortality is showing an increasing trend.
World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28th July to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis.
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