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Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver.
Six forms of Hepatitis are now recognized. These are labeled as
Hepatitis A,B,C,D,E & F. Some forms of Hepatitis are sudden and
brief (acute) while others are long lasting (chronic). Most forms of
hepatitis are caused by viruses. The viruses have names similar to
those of the diseases they cause. Hepatitis A, for example, is caused
by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis B is caused by the
hepatitis B virus (HBV), and so on.
The
exact mechanism by which viruses cause hepatitis is not entirely
understood. It appears that the disease is not caused by the virus
itself, but by the body's immune system. When a foreign invader
enters the body, the immune system begins to respond. It produces
chemicals designed to kill the invader. These chemicals are called
antibodies. The presence of antibodies in the bloodstream may have
other effects on the body, including inflammation, swelling, and
other symptoms. It appears that the liver becomes inflamed because of
the antibodies produced by the immune system, not because of the
virus itself.
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