Viral Hepatitis

EtiologyTop

Acute viral hepatitis is characterized by rapidly evolving necrotic and inflammatory hepatic lesions caused by:

1) Hepatotropic viruses: Hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV), or hepatitis E virus (HEV).

2) Viruses causing secondary liver infections (hepatitis is one of the symptoms of generalized infection associated with specific clinical features): Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, rubella virus, varicella-zoster virus, echovirus, measles virus, yellow fever virus, and adenoviruses. These infections are not discussed further in the subchapters but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute hepatitis.