Hepatitis

We speak of hepatitis when the liver is inflamed. "Hepatitis" derives in fact from the Greek term hêpar, which means liver, while the suffix -ite reminds us that we are in the presence of an inflammatory process.

There are numerous forms of hepatitis, classified into two large groups:

infectious hepatitis
non-infectious hepatitis

The first group includes forms of hepatitis caused by infections, then by pathogenic microorganisms; the best known are indicated with the first five letters of the alphabet; therefore we have hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. Each of these is caused by a specific virus, also identified by the acronym HV (Hepatitis Virus) accompanied by the specific letter of the alphabet; for example, the HAV virus is responsible for hepatitis A, the HBV for hepatitis B and so on.

In addition to these viruses, infectious hepatitis can be caused by other microorganisms; this is the case, for example, of cytomegalovirus (CMV), epsteinBarr virus (EBV, responsible for mononucleosis), varicella virus and herpes zoster (VZV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV). These forms of hepatitis are however quite rare and mostly affect immunosuppressed subjects, therefore with a weakened immune system.

Hepatitis can also be caused by the ingestion of toxic substances (alcohol abuse, drugs, poisonous mushrooms such as Amanita phalloides), autoimmune diseases and metabolic factors (Wilson's disease, α-1 trypsin deficiency).

In Italy and in industrialized countries, hepatitis is mainly caused by alcohol abuse. However, there is another emerging risk factor, represented by the so-called fatty liver or fatty liver; in practice, due to overeating, sedentary lifestyle and overweight, the liver tends to become stuffed with fat and this can cause it to become swollen and inflamed.
In developing countries, on the other hand, infectious forms prevail, which are however common also in Italy and in other industrialized countries.

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis D
Symptoms Hepatitis
Hepatitis - Medicines for the treatment of Hepatitis
Alcoholic hepatitis
Fatty liver disease (fatty liver)

Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Hepatitis D Hepatitis E Transmission oral contamination of water, food and people with fecal matter through the skin or mucous membranes contaminated blood, unprotected sexual intercourse, from the infected mother to the newborn contaminated blood through the skin or mucous membranes through the skin or mucous membranes such as hepatitis B; only in the presence of hepatitis B (co-infection or superinfection) * oral such as hepatitis a Incubation period 15–50 days 1–6 months 50 days - 6 months 1–6 months 15–50 days Course 50–70% of cases develop symptoms (nausea ...) varies according to age mostly without symptoms, however with possible evolution towards cirrhosis and liver cancer such as hepatitis B such as hepatitis a; in the case of pregnant women it can have a serious course Acute hepatitis Yes yes (in 50–70% of infections contracted in adulthood) rare (5-10% of cases) Yes Yes Chronic hepatitis never yes (in 5-10% of infections contracted in adulthood, 90% in case of infection contracted at birth) yes (70–80% of cases) Yes but Reinfection no no Yes no no Vaccination yes (2 injections for long-lasting protection) yes (3 injections for adults, 2 for young people; also protects against hepatitis D) no yes (the hepatitis B vaccine also protects against hepatitis D) no Therapy no interferon and other antiviral drugs variable efficacy (<50%) interferon and ribavirin (efficacy: 50–90%) interferon and other antiviral drugs (ineffective therapy) no

* It is possible a "simultaneous infection with both viruses, or a person who has already contracted hepatitis B can be infected later also by" hepatitis D.