The word “hepatitis” means simply inflammation of the liver, without pointing to any specific cause. Someone with hepatitis may:
* Having one or more disorders, including viral or bacterial infection of the liver.
* Present liver damage caused by a toxin (a kind of poison).
* Present liver damage caused by interruption of blood supply of normal liver.
* Having an autoimmune disorder that affects the liver.
* To have suffered trauma in the abdominal area of the liver.
* Hepatitis A
* Hepatitis B
* Hepatitis C
In very rare cases, the Epstein Barr virus (which causes mononucleosis) can also trigger a hepatitis because it can cause liver inflammation. There are other viruses and bacteria that may cause hepatitis, including hepatitis viruses D and E, the varicella virus and cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Hepatitis A
In children, the most common form of hepatitis is hepatitis A (also called infectious hepatitis). This type of hepatitis is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), which is found in the stool of infected persons. Infected faeces may be present in small amounts in food and objects (from a door knob to diaper a baby).
The hepatitis A virus is spread:
* When someone eats something contaminated with HAV-infected stool (this facilitates transmission in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions).
* Through the water, milk and contaminated food, especially seafood.
Since hepatitis A can be a mild infection, particularly in childhood, some people do not realize they have contracted the disease, which go unnoticed and remain undiagnosed. In fact, although medical tests show that about 40% of Americans living in urban areas have suffered from hepatitis A, only about 5% recall being sick. Although the hepatitis viruses can cause a disease of long duration (up to six months), usually causes only short-term and not a cause of chronic liver disease.