Library · Disease
Hepatitis
Make it clearer
Hepatitis literally means that the liver is inflamed. Picture an organ whose tissue becomes inflamed, swollen, and damaged: that swelling and damage can make the liver work less effectively.
The word hepatitis describes what is happening in the liver, not a single cause. It is more like a category that groups different problems together. That is why there are several types of hepatitis, and they should not be assumed to be the same.
In brief
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver; the word describes what is happening in liver tissue.
When that tissue becomes inflamed, it may swell and sustain damage. These changes can affect how the liver works.
The term does not indicate a single cause. Hepatitis is an umbrella term for different types of liver inflammation, and those types do not necessarily share the same cause.
Sources (1)
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of MedicineHepatitisPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated