Word parts
What it means
Swelling and injury of the liver. Viruses are the most common cause: hepatitis A and E spread through food or water contaminated with stool, while hepatitis B, C and D spread through blood and body fluids, and B also from birthing parent to baby. Alcohol, some drugs (such as too much acetaminophenuh-see-tuh-MIN-uh-fenA drug that relieves mild to moderate pain and lowers fever.Full entry ) and autoimmune disease can also cause it. Long-lasting hepatitis B or C can lead to cirrhosissih-ROH-sisLong-term scarring of the liver, in which scar tissue replaces healthy tissue and keeps the liver from working normally.cirrh/o orange-yellow-osis abnormal conditionFull entry and liver cancer.
For the nurse
Use standard precautions for blood and body fluids, and contact precautions for hepatitis A in clients who are incontinent. Vaccines prevent hepatitis A and B; teach clients not to share needles, razors or toothbrushes and to avoid alcohol while the liver heals.
At a glance
| Spanish | hepatitis |
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Related terms
-itis
A word ending that means inflammation.
infectious disease
An illness caused by a germ such as a bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite.
jaundice
Yellow color of the skin, the whites of the eyes and other tissues from too much bilirubin in the blood.
bilirubin
A yellow pigment made when old red blood cells break down, which the liver clears into bile.
cirrhosis
Long-term scarring of the liver, in which scar tissue replaces healthy tissue and keeps the liver from working normally.