The word hepatitis merely means an inflammation of the liver without indicating a specific cause. Someone with hepatitis may have one of several disorders, including viral or bacterial infection of the liver, liver injury caused by toxins, liver damage caused by break of the organ's normal blood supply, experiencing shock to the abdomen in the area of the liver.

Hepatitis is mainly caused by one of these three viruses- the hepatitis A virus, the hepatitis B virus or the hepatitis C virus. In some extraordinary cases, the Epstein Barr Virus can also result in hepatitis as it can cause inflammation of the liver. Other viruses and bacteria that also can cause hepatitis include hepatitis D and E and chickenpox.

 

In children, the most frequent form of hepatitis is hepatitis A. This form is caused by the hepatitis A virus, which lives in the stools of contaminated individuals. Infected stool can be present in small amounts in food and on objects. The hepatitis A virus is spread when someone ingests something that's infected with HAV contaminated stool. Since hepatitis A can be a mild infection, mainly in children, it's probable for some people to be uninformed that they have had the illness. Even though the hepatitis A virus can cause extended illness up to 6 months, it usually only causes’ passing illnesses and it does not cause constant liver disease.

 

Hepatitis B is also called serum hepatitis and is caused by the hepatitis B virus. HBV can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from common malaise to chronic liver disease that can lead to liver cancer. The hepatitis B virus spreads through infected body fluids, such as blood, saliva, semen, vaginal fluids, tears, and urine, a contaminated blood transfusion, shared contaminated needles or syringes for injecting drugs, sexual activity with an infected person, and transmission from HBV infected mothers to their newborn babies.

 

 

The hepatitis C virus is spread by direct contact with an infected person's blood. Infection with the hepatitis C virus can lead to chronic liver disease and is the foremost reason for liver transplant. The hepatitis C virus can be spread by sharing drug needles, getting a tattoo or body piercing with un-sterilized tools, blood transfusions, transmission from mother to newborn and sexual contact. Hepatitis C is also a common threat in kidney dialysis centers.