What is viral hepatitis? Viral hepatitis: Types, symptoms, treatment, and prevention

HEPATITIS

 

-Inflammation of the liver , usually caused by exposure to infectious agent ( e.g. a hepatitis virus) , a toxin, )e.g. alcohal) or a drug(e.g. acetaminophen).
⁃ The illnes may be mild or life -threatning, acute or chronic.
⁃ Chronic cases may be detected only by the discovery of elevated liver enzymes in the blood.
⁃ Acute cases are marked by jaundice, hepatic enlargement and occasional bleeding , altered mental status and multiple organ system failure.
⁃ PATHOLOGY
⁃ Damage to liver cells is caused by injury from caustive agent or i directly as a result of inflammatory or autoimmune responses.
⁃ During acute inflammtion the swollen hepatocytes are less able to detoxify drugs; to produce clothing factors, cholesterol, plasma protiens, bile amd glycogen; to store fat-soluble vitamins ;or to perform other functions .
⁃ All of the virsus may causes fulminant hepatitis , but hepatitis B and D are the most common causes.
⁃ Drug overdoses , ingetion of toxins, and sho k are also responsible for rapid  liver deterioration .
⁃