hepatitis

[ hep-uh-tahy-tis ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. inflammation of the liver, caused by a virus or a toxin and characterized by jaundice, liver enlargement, and fever.

hepatitis

/ ˌhɛpəˈtaɪtɪs /

noun

1. inflammation of the liver, characterized by fever, jaundice, and weakness See hepatitis A hepatitis B hepatitis C

hepatitis

/ hĕp′ə-tī′tĭs /

1. Inflammation of the liver, usually caused by any of various infectious agents or toxins, including alcohol and numerous chemical compounds. Symptoms usually include jaundice, fatigue, fever, liver enlargement, and abdominal pain. There are five types of viral hepatitis: A, B,C, D, and E. Hepatitis A, an acute infection caused by a virus of the genus Hepatovirus is transmitted by contaminated food and water. Hepatitis B, caused by a virus of the genus Orthohepadnavirus and Hepatitis C, caused by a virus of the genus Hepacivirus, are more serious infections that are transmitted through infected bodily fluids such as blood and semen.

hepatitis

1. An inflammation of the liver . Hepatitis is most often caused by a virus , but it can be the result of exposure to certain toxic agents, such as drugs or chemicals. One viral form of the disease is spread by contaminated food and water, and other forms by contaminated injection needles and blood transfusions . Symptoms of hepatitis include fever and jaundice .

Word History and Origins

Origin of hepatitis¹

From the Greek word hēpatîtis, dating back to 1720–30. See hepat-, -itis

Example Sentences

County health officials are warning that some diners at a Monterey Park restaurant may have been exposed to hepatitis A.

From Los Angeles Times

According to the researchers, these data suggest that these animals could be a source of human hepatitis E infections in the metropolitan region.

From Science Daily

Even though an excellent vaccine has been available since the 1990s, there have been 45,000 confirmed cases of hepatitis A, leading to 424 deaths in the United States, since 2016.

From Science Daily

The researchers used these so-called primary neurons to determine that hepatitis E viruses are capable of infecting the nerve cells directly.

From Science Daily

Lesh quickly faced his own health problems: In 1998, he had a successful liver transplant after having a chronic hepatitis C infection.

From Los Angeles Times