Acute Hepatitis

Abstract

Acute viral hepatitis is sporadic or endemic mainly due to hepatitis virus. It is spread by the oral-fecal route or parenterally by blood transfusion, intravenous drug abuse, and sexual intercourse. The hepatitis virus is defined as a virus that has a greater affinity for the liver and produces a characteristic inflammatory reaction in the liver. The virus includes types A, B, C, D, and E. Types A is transmitted via the oral-fecal route, whereas types B, C, and D are transmitted by parenteral route. Type E is mostly transmitted through the fecal-oral route, but it can be transmitted via blood transfusions (Table 3.1). Systemic infections of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus, herpesvirus, adenovirus, and rubella rarely produce acute concomitant hepatitis. EBV causes hepatitis in the acute phase of systemic infection; and acute hepatitis due to herpesvirus, cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, or rubella occurs in immunosuppressed patients and young children.