Canadian flag English
McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine

Viral Hepatitis

How to Cite This Chapter: Tsoi K, Juszczyk J, Mrukowicz J. Viral Hepatitis. McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine. Kraków: Medycyna Praktyczna. https://empendium.com/mcmtextbook/chapter/B31.II.7.1. Accessed April 21, 2025.
Last Reviewed: July 9, 2019
Last Updated: July 9, 2019
Chapter Information

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.

Welcome to
the McMaster Textbook
of Internal Medicine
In one week we will ask you
to register to continue
full complimentary access
to both our website and app.

We would love to hear from you

Comments, mistakes, suggestions?

Send feedback

We use cookies to ensure you get the best browsing experience on our website. Refer to our Cookies Information and Privacy Policy for more details.