Because it is connected to almost every metabolic function of the body, it can be the most susceptible to attack by hepatitis viruses. These viruses use the liver as a host and draw energy from it, thus interrupting essential liver functions. But despite all the advances made in the past several years, many questions remain unanswered. Since the liver affects so many functions, disease based in the liver can produce symptoms throughout the body. The Hepatitis Alphabet Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by exposure to viruses, as well as other infections, drugs or overuse of alcohol.
Physicians test for the presence of hepatitis by measuring liver enzyme levels in the blood.
The liver enzymes leak from liver cells damaged by the inflammation and provide a rough guide as to the level of inflammation. To date, researchers have confirmed five types of viral hepatitis which cause inflammation and damage liver cells. Hepatitis A is spread by poor personal hygiene or by food or water contaminated by sewage. It is common in developing countries. Hepatitis B is spread by contact with contaminated blood, through sexual intercourse or intravenous drug use, or from mother to child at birth.