Hepatitis

What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver and can result in liver cell damage and destruction.

What causes hepatitis?
Hepatitis in children has many different origins or causes. A child may contract hepatitis from exposure to a viral source. The following is a list of some of the viruses associated with hepatitis:
  • Hepatitis viruses - six main types of the hepatitis virus have been identified, including hepatitis A, B, C, D, E and G.
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - a virus that is a part of the herpes virus family that can be transmitted from person to person.
  • Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) - the virus most commonly associated with infectious mononucleosis.
  • Herpes simplex virus (HSV) - herpes can involve the face and skin above the waist or the genitalia.
  • Varicella zoster virus (VZV) - also known as chickenpox, a complication of VZV is hepatitis.
  • Enteroviruses - a group of viruses commonly seen in children such as coxsackieviruses, hand-foot-mouth disease and echoviruses.
  • Rubella - caused by the rubivirus, rubella is a mild disease that causes a rash.
  • Adenovirus - a group of viruses that commonly cause colds, tonsillitis, and ear infections in children. They can also cause diarrhea.
  • Parvovirus - a virus referred to as fifth disease, which is characterized by a facial rash that is described as having a "slapped-cheek" appearance.
The following is a list of some of the diseases that may cause chronic hepatitis in children:
  • Autoimmune liver disease - the body's immune system develops antibodies that attack the liver causing an inflammatory process that leads to hepatitis.
  • Chronic viral hepatitis - usually caused by hepatitis B, C or D.

Hepatitis is treated by specialists in the liver disease clinic.

 

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