Hepatitis

1 min read

What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver. The liver can become inflamed by numerous insults.

Exposure to glues and solvents, such as carbon tetrachloride.
Exposure to toxins- one example is the toxins present in some mushrooms.
Alcohol in excess of the ability of the liver to detoxify it.
Viruses including
- Mononucleosis
- Herpes simplex
- Yellow fever
- German measles
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis D
- Hepatitis E
- Cytomegalovirus
Bacteria such as syphilis or gonorrhea
Drugs, including acetaminophen (Tylenol) and many others
Systemic illness such as Crohn's disease
An imbalanced immune system (autoimmune hepatitis)

Some of these are resolved spontaneously. Mononucleosis hepatitis, for example, rarely causes problems and often is not even recognized. Hepatitis A can be contracted from food or water, can make a person fairly sick for a couple of months, and usually resolves completely. Hepatitis B is transmitted by bodily fluids, may or may not cause symptoms, and over 90% of the time resolves spontaneously. However, 10% of the time it can become chronic.

Aside from the causes listed above, some people may have a low-grade hepatitis much of their lives, presumably from environmental toxins, excess calories, or unknown reasons. Often this seems to cause no problems.