A 24-year-old member asked:
What is hepatitis?
9 doctor answers • 18 doctors weighed in

Dr. Lonna Larshanswered
Family Medicine 32 years experience
Liver inflammation: Usually when people talk about hepatitis, they mean one of the infections in the liver, but it can mean inflammation from other causes as well (e.g.Alcohol). Hepatitis a is the kind you get from contaminated food. It causes an acute illness that can last weeks. Hepatitis b and c are from contaminated blood (in the same way as hiv/aids). Both, but especially c can cause chronic liver problems.
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5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Foster Carranswered
General Practice 35 years experience
Liver inflammation: Add an itis to anything and it means inflammation. Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver and can be caused by viruses (such as hep a, hep b, hep c, and ebv), alcohol, medications, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (nash), autoimmune diseases, toxins, and tumors.
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5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Robert Kwokanswered
Pediatrics 35 years experience
Liver inflammation: Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, caused by infectious microbes (viruses, parasites, etc...) or toxic substances (alcohol, medications, autoimmune antibodies, etc...) and has symptoms which include jaundice, fever, liver enlargement, and abdominal pain.
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6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged

Dr. Jamie Berkesanswered
Hepatology 25 years experience
?: Need more information. The definition of hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. It can be caused from many things including infections, medications, alcohol, autoimmune disorders, metabolic conditions, and genetic defects.
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6.2k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged

Dr. Rick Kirschneranswered
42 years experience
Depends on type: Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Viral hepatitis is caused by a few specific viruses, types a, b, c, d, e, f (not confirmed), and g. The most common hepatitis viruses are types a, b, and c. A, by oral secretions and stool. B, sexual conduct, blood (tattooing, piercing, transfusions). C, sharing needles, transfusions. D, same as b. Up to 1/3 of cases have unknown source.
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5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged

Dr. John Funganswered
General Surgery 41 years experience
Variety of reasons: Hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver and is reflected by elevated liver function tests (ast and alt) - it can be the result of many things - the most common are: alcohol, fatty liver, viral hepatitis (hepatitis b and hepatitis c), autoimmune hepatitis, and drug induced hepatitis. Treatment varies by etiology, so it is critical to determine the cause - see you physician to have tests.
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5k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged

Dr. Larry Lutwickanswered
Infectious Disease 51 years experience
Liver inflammation: Which can be related to one of the several hepatitis viruses such as a, b, c or e, or can be due to a toxic such as alcohol or as a reaction to a medication.
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Dr. Ivelisse Rivera-Godreauanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Liver inflammation..: It is a liver inflammation which could be caused by various reasons. Viral hepatitis could be caused by types A,B, C, D, E, the most common are the first three. Also frequent alcohol intake, medications, autoimmune, among others.
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3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged

Dr. Robert Kwokanswered
Pediatrics 35 years experience
A virus: Hepatitis A is a virus that can infect the liver but does not stay around after the infection is cleared (meaning that patients don't become chronic carriers). It is more common in developing countries and third world countries than here in the United States. The virus is in human sewage, so places where there is not a good sewage system will have hepatitis A problems. Everyone can get vaccinated.
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2.5k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
Similar questions
Nigeria
A 23-year-old male asked:
How to cure hepatitis?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Pavel Conovalciucanswered
Family Medicine 25 years experience
Hepatitis: It depends on what type of hepatitis you have (b or c), genotype, previous trials, your health status and many other determinants.
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4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
What is symtoms of hepatitis?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Robert Kwokanswered
Pediatrics 35 years experience
Hepatitis causes...: Hepatitis (liver infection / inflammation) causes: fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, low-grade fever, darker urine, muscle aches, jaundice (yellow skin), etc... A person with hepatitis may be contagious, so a doctor has to do an evaluation and some tests.
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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
NY
A member asked:
What's hepatitis disease?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Chirag Vasaanswered
Infectious Disease 29 years experience
Liver: It is inflammation or infection of liver. Caused by viral, bacterial, parasite, autoimmune or drug related.
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5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Who should be tested for hepatitis?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Arthur Helleranswered
Gastroenterology 45 years experience
Exposure risk: Exposed to known case. Born in endemic region, e.g. Asia, africa, middle east, caribbean; history IV drug , nasal drug use; transfusion before 1993; men who have had sex with men, women who have had sex with men who have had sex with men; "homemade" tattoos; tainted food/water; needle stick
hep a: fecal/oral route, bad water/food
hep c: blood/drug use, sex exposure less
hep b : blood/drug/birth.
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6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Whar is hepatitis?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Michael Einanswered
Infectious Disease 50 years experience
Inflamation of liver: Hepatitis or liver inflamation has many causes. The most common are alcoholic hepatitis, viral hepatitis caused by hepatitis a, b, or c virus and drug induced hepatitis.
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5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 18, 2016
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