What is hepatitis?

What is hepatitis?

• A. Inflammation of the liver caused by infectious agents, toxins, or drugs
• B. Inflammation of the pancreas caused by bacteria
• C. Inflammation of the liver caused by autoimmune only
• D. Infection of the liver caused by parasites

Answer: (A)

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. This inflammation can come from a variety of causes, most commonly infectious agents (like the hepatitis viruses), toxins or drugs that damage liver cells, or autoimmune processes. Harnessing this broad view helps distinguish hepatitis from problems in other organs (for example, pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas) and from a disease caused exclusively by one mechanism. The idea is that the liver is inflamed, due to viruses, toxins such as alcohol or certain medications, or autoimmune injury, and that captures the main ways the condition arises.

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. This inflammation can come from a variety of causes, most commonly infectious agents (like the hepatitis viruses), toxins or drugs that damage liver cells, or autoimmune processes. Harnessing this broad view helps distinguish hepatitis from problems in other organs (for example, pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas) and from a disease caused exclusively by one mechanism. The idea is that the liver is inflamed, due to viruses, toxins such as alcohol or certain medications, or autoimmune injury, and that captures the main ways the condition arises.