what is hepatitis

WHAT IS HEPATITIS?

Hepatitis is a virus that attacks the liver. It can be transmitted in a variety of ways and has several forms.

Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus and can affect anyone . It is transmitted through fecal-oral contamination, often in food or drinking water.

Hepatitis B also is caused by a virus and can be very serious. It can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis or scarring of the liver and liver cancer.

Hepatitis C is also caused by a virus but is only contracted through blood from another infected person. It often goes unnoticed because early symptoms are mild.

Hepatitis D is a defective disease that is only present in people who already have Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis E is a virus transmitted in the same way as Hepatitis A but is not found in the United States.On the Net

Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/ hepatitis

Hepatitis Foundation: www.hepfi.org

Hepatitis Information Network: www.hepnet.com