Inflammation of the liver caused by viruses (viral hepatitis) or by chronic exposure to medicines or toxins such as alcohol.
Symptoms include jaundice (yellowing of the skin caused by the buildup of bile pigments in the body), fever, appetite loss and gastrointestinal upset.
Source: GreenFacts
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Hepatitis has many forms, including hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A can affect anyone. [It is mostly spread through contaminated food and water.]
Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The virus, which is called hepatitis B virus (HBV), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. [It is spread through blood or sexual contact.]
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is found in the blood of persons who have the disease. HCV is spread by contact with the blood of an infected person. [The virus is carried and passed to others through blood or sexual contact and can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer.]
