Drugs, like chemical toxins, are cleared through the liver and can also cause hepatitis. Alcoholic hepatitis is the most common type of drug induced hepatitis. Individuals with chronic illnesses who must take lots of medications can experience hepatitis and must be monitored by their doctor. There are many viruses that can cause hepatitis these include A, B, C, D, E and G viruses. Other viruses are suspected to cause hepatitis but have not yet been named.
Symptoms range from mild and inapparent to severe and sometimes fatal.
Travelers who visit countries without adequate sewage treatment facilities are susceptible to infection. Most infections result from contact with a household member or sex partner who has HEP A. Infection is more severe in children than adults and very rarely results in chronic infection. HEP A is rarely fatal and usually resolves within 4-6 weeks. A small percentage of individuals with acute HEP B infection will go on to have chronic infection and may develop cirrhosis or liver cancer. HEP D virus can be acquired either as a co-infection with HEP B or as a superinfection of persons with chronic HEP B infection.