Hepatitis refers to an inflammatory condition of the liver. It’s commonly caused by a viral infection, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis. These include autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis that occurs as a secondary result of medications, drugs, toxins, and alcohol. Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease that occurs when your body makes antibodies against your liver tissue. Your liver is located in the right upper area of your abdomen. It performs many critical functions that affect metabolism throughout your body, including:
bile production, which is essential to digestion
filtering of toxins from your body
excretion of bilirubin (a product of broken-down red blood cells), cholesterol, hormones, and drugs
breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins
activation of enzymes, which are specialized proteins essential to body functions
storage of glycogen (a form of sugar), minerals, and vitamins (A, D, E, and K)
synthesis of blood proteins, such as albumin
synthesis of clotting factors
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is caused by an infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). This type of hepatitis is most commonly transmitted by consuming food or water contaminated by feces from a person infected with hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with infectious body fluids, such as blood, vaginal secretions, or semen, containing the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Injection drug use, having sex with an infected partner, or sharing razors with an infected person increase your risk of getting hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C comes from the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C is transmitted through direct contact with infected body fluids, typically through injection drug use and sexual contact.
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