What is hepatitis A, and what causes it?
Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It is one of the most widely reported diseases that is preventable by a vaccine. Other viruses can cause hepatitis, most commonly the hepatitis B and C viruses. However, hepatitis has many causes, including certain medications, long-term alcohol use, and exposure to certain industrial chemicals. Viral hepatitis can be spread from one person to another, but the other types of hepatitis cannot. What Is Hepatitis B? Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Infection with this virus can cause scarring of the liver, liver failure, liver cancer, and even death. Hepatitis B is spread in infected blood and other bodily fluids such as semen, vaginal secretions, saliva, open sores, and breast milk. What Happens to People With Hepatitis B? In most cases (90%-95%), hepatitis B causes limited infection. Usually people manage to fight off the infection successfully within a few months, developing an
