Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a variety of different factors. These include viruses, bacteria, parasites, chemical poisons, drugs, alcohol, autoimmunity, and more. Hepatitis is generally a serious condition, but it can be prevented with a vaccine against some types of the hepatitis virus. It can also be avoided by not drinking too much alcohol or taking medications that cause hepatitis.
Viral hepatitis is a serious disease affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. It causes both acute and chronic sequelae, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis, and liver failure.
Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Most people recover within 3 months, but a small number of patients may develop chronic liver diseases such as fibrosis and cirrhosis.
The HAV genome consists of two strands of DNA held in a circular arrangement by base-pairing at the 5' ends. The 3' end is linked to a molecule capable of DNA polymerase activity, which, when supplied with deoxynucleoside triphosphates, forms the complementary strand of DNA.
The hepatitis A virus is transmitted through blood-product transfusions or through close contact with an infected person. Infection is more common in children and occurs more frequently during the first year of life. It is also more likely to occur in people who have health problems that affect their immune system.
Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver and can cause both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) disease. Hepatitis B infection is most commonly spread from mother to child during birth and delivery, but it can also be transmitted through sex with an infected partner or unsafe injections or exposures to sharp instruments.
Vaccines are the best way to prevent hepatitis B. Hepatitis B vaccines are safe, effective, and can protect against infection for about 20 years.
The hepatitis B vaccine is made from genetically engineered virus particles that are harmless to humans and do not cause the disease. It is a series of three shots that protects against hepatitis B and is recommended for all children.
Hepatitis B is a chronic (long-term) infection and is often accompanied by cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer). Treatment can slow the progression of cirrhosis, reduce the risk of liver cancer, and improve survival in people with chronic hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C is a virus that can cause inflammation of your liver. It is spread through contact with body fluids, such as blood and saliva.
The hepatitis C virus is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus and is classified in the Flaviviridae family. It consists of a 9.5-kb genome that contains one internal coding region and two flanking noncoding regions.
A person can get hepatitis C by having contact with another person's blood, saliva, or urine. This can happen when people share needles for injecting intravenous drugs or in medical settings with unsterilized equipment.
Hepatitis C infection is a chronic condition that can lead to serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, and death. Most people who have it don't have any symptoms, and they can go years without knowing they are infected.
Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a satellite agent of hepatitis B virus that requires hepatitis B surface antigen for replication in primary hepatocytes. The HDV genome is a circular RNA molecule 1700 bases long and encodes the hepatitis D virus antigen, which forms the capsid of the virus.
Hepatitis B surface antigen is essential for viral replication and assembly of new virions. HDV replicates in hepatocytes using a double-rolling-circle mechanism that depends on the ratio of small to large delta antigen (HDVAg or delta Ag).
The clinical course of hepatitis D is usually more severe than that of other types of viral hepatitis. In the first stage, nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, and anorexia are present. Jaundice develops, and the serum bilirubin level becomes abnormal.
The disease is characterized by hepatic encephalopathy and may result in death, especially in patients who have been superinfected with HDV. Chronic HDV infection causes a more rapid progression of liver damage than does chronic HBV infection alone. This leads to cirrhosis and liver failure in 70%–80% of people with chronic HDV superinfection.
Viral hepatitis is a serious disease affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. It causes both acute and chronic sequelae, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis, and liver failure.
Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Most people recover within 3 months, but a small number of patients may develop chronic liver diseases such as fibrosis and cirrhosis.
The HAV genome consists of two strands of DNA held in a circular arrangement by base-pairing at the 5' ends. The 3' end is linked to a molecule capable of DNA polymerase activity, which, when supplied with deoxynucleoside triphosphates, forms the complementary strand of DNA.
The hepatitis A virus is transmitted through blood-product transfusions or through close contact with an infected person. Infection is more common in children and occurs more frequently during the first year of life. It is also more likely to occur in people who have health problems that affect their immune system.
Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver and can cause both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) disease. Hepatitis B infection is most commonly spread from mother to child during birth and delivery, but it can also be transmitted through sex with an infected partner or unsafe injections or exposures to sharp instruments.
Vaccines are the best way to prevent hepatitis B. Hepatitis B vaccines are safe, effective, and can protect against infection for about 20 years.
The hepatitis B vaccine is made from genetically engineered virus particles that are harmless to humans and do not cause the disease. It is a series of three shots that protects against hepatitis B and is recommended for all children.
Hepatitis B is a chronic (long-term) infection and is often accompanied by cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer). Treatment can slow the progression of cirrhosis, reduce the risk of liver cancer, and improve survival in people with chronic hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C is a virus that can cause inflammation of your liver. It is spread through contact with body fluids, such as blood and saliva.
The hepatitis C virus is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus and is classified in the Flaviviridae family. It consists of a 9.5-kb genome that contains one internal coding region and two flanking noncoding regions.
A person can get hepatitis C by having contact with another person's blood, saliva, or urine. This can happen when people share needles for injecting intravenous drugs or in medical settings with unsterilized equipment.
Hepatitis C infection is a chronic condition that can lead to serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, and death. Most people who have it don't have any symptoms, and they can go years without knowing they are infected.
Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a satellite agent of hepatitis B virus that requires hepatitis B surface antigen for replication in primary hepatocytes. The HDV genome is a circular RNA molecule 1700 bases long and encodes the hepatitis D virus antigen, which forms the capsid of the virus.
Hepatitis B surface antigen is essential for viral replication and assembly of new virions. HDV replicates in hepatocytes using a double-rolling-circle mechanism that depends on the ratio of small to large delta antigen (HDVAg or delta Ag).
The clinical course of hepatitis D is usually more severe than that of other types of viral hepatitis. In the first stage, nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, and anorexia are present. Jaundice develops, and the serum bilirubin level becomes abnormal.
The disease is characterized by hepatic encephalopathy and may result in death, especially in patients who have been superinfected with HDV. Chronic HDV infection causes a more rapid progression of liver damage than does chronic HBV infection alone. This leads to cirrhosis and liver failure in 70%–80% of people with chronic HDV superinfection.