What is Hepatitis?

-Hepatitis is a medical condition due to inflammation of the liver. It mostly presents without any symptoms, rarely it presents with jaundice, fever, chills, pain and lethargy. It may be self-limited or progress to chronic disease with scarring that may lead to fibrosis or cirrhosis.

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What Causes Hepatitis?

-The most common cause of hepatitis are viruses. Hepatitis A, B and D are preventable with immunization, hepatitis C is the 2nd most common cause of liver cirrhosis in the world (2nd only to alcoholic hepatitis). Other very common causes are heavy alcohol use, fatty liver and medications. In the United States, NASH affects about 11 million people and alcoholic hepatitis affects about 5 million people. Hepatitis results in more than a million deaths a year, most of which occur indirectly from liver scarring or liver cancer

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Treatment is based on the type and severity of the disease. Hepatitis A, B and D are preventable with immunization, hepatitis C is the 2nd most common cause of liver cirrhosis in the world (2nd only to alcoholic hepatitis). 

 

-Consult Dr. Aviles and Dr. Tenembaum for further medical advise.