AllRefer Health - Caring for your Well Being  

Home | About | FAQs | Contact Us

AllRefer Channels :: Yellow Pages | Reference | Health  

Diseases & Conditions
Select & Go
 Diet & Nutrition
 Diseases & Conditions 
 Health News
 Injuries & Wounds
 Poisons & Overdoses
 Surgery & Procedures 
 Symptoms Guide
 Special Topics
 Tests & Exams
 Pictures & Images
 Medical Encyclopedia
Google
  Web health.allrefer.com   

You are here : AllRefer.com > Health > Diseases & Conditions > Hepatitis

Hepatitis

Provided by A.D.A.M.

Definition

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Symptoms & Signs

Prevention

Diagnosis & Tests

Treatment

Expectations or Prognosis

Complications

Support Groups

Calling Your Health Care Provider

Pictures & Images

Go To Main Page


Definition

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver.

Pictures & Images

Hepatitis B Virus
Hepatitis B Virus

Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C

Gianotti-Crosti Syndrome on the Leg
Gianotti-Crosti Syndrome on the Leg

Liver Anatomy
Liver Anatomy

     See all Pictures & Images
Overview, Causes, & 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 (such as Tylenol), which is rare but can be deadly (more common if you drink alcohol regularly)
  • Immune cells in the body attacking the liver and causing autoimmune hepatitis

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 like your 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
  • Acetominophen overdose -- 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
  • Risky sexual behaviors (like having multiple sexual partners and unprotected intercourse)
  • Eating contaminated foods
  • Travel to an endemic area, like Asia, Africa, or South or Central America
  • Living in a nursing home or rehabilitation center
  • Family member who recently had hepatitis A
  • Alcohol use
  • Organ transplant recipient
  • AIDS
  • Blood transfusion received prior to 1990 (before hepatitis C blood test was available)
  • Newborns of mothers with hepatitis B or C (can be transmitted during delivery)
  • Healthcare workers, including dentists and dental hygienists, because of blood contact
  • Receiving a tatoo

See also:



Today's Top News Stories

Clinical Trials Update: July 25, 2008 - Jul 25, 2008, 10:01

Study Disproves Belief That Hepatitis C Blunts HIV Drugs - Jul 25, 2008, 12:00
Impaired immune response after anti-retroviral therapy may be due to genetic factors.

People With GERD More Likely to Develop Asthma - Jul 25, 2008, 09:00
Study finds fluid back-up in esophagus can cause immune system changes.

Weekends Tough on the Diet - Jul 25, 2008, 09:00
Saturday can be toughest for those trying to drop pounds, study finds.

Health Hazards in Household Cleaners Exposed - Jul 25, 2008, 12:00
Use of certain cleaning products reduces lung function, increases asthma risk, studies find.


<

^ Top

>


Jump to another section

Definition
Hepatitis Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Hepatitis Symptoms & Signs
Hepatitis Prevention
Hepatitis Diagnosis & Tests
Hepatitis Treatment
Hepatitis Prognosis
Hepatitis Complications
Hepatitis Support Groups
Calling Your Health Care Provider
Pictures & Images

Topics that might be of interest to you

Diseases & Conditions

Alcoholic Liver Disease
Autoimmune Hepatitis
Cirrhosis
Drug-Induced Hepatitis
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Peritonitis - Spontaneous

Tests & Exams

Abdominal Tap - Paracentesis
Abdominal Ultrasound
Hepatitis Virus Test or Panel
Liver Biopsy
Liver Function Tests

Other Topics

Abdomen - Swollen
Abdominal Pain
Appetite - Decreased
Fatigue
Fever
Gynecomastia
Jaundice - Yellow Skin
Liver Disease - Resources
Nausea and Vomiting
Stools - Pale or Clay Colored
Urine - Bloody

Review Date : 10/3/2003
Reviewed By : Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Boston, Ma., and Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M.,Inc.

Main Page of Hepatitis






Featured Topics

Alzheimer's Disease

High Blood Pressure

Crohn's Disease

Impotence

Overactive Bladder


ADAM

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial reviewers. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Copyright © 2007 AllRefer.com All Rights reserved.
Health Topics: A-Al Am-Az B C-Cj Ck-Cz D E F G H I J K L M N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sl Sm-Sz T U V W X Y Z 0-9
About Us | Help | Privacy Policy | Editorial Policy | Advertising Policy | Accessibility | Terms of Use
Contact Us | Link to Us | User Satisfaction Survey | Healthopedia.com
Page Last Updated: 25 Jul, 2008