Hepatitis C is a viral liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus, or HCV. The virus demonstrates a high level of variability with several genetically distinct groups called genotypes. The World Health Organization reports that 11 major HCV...
Hepatitis A is an acute liver infection that causes severe inflammation within this organ. Approximately one-third of people in the United States have developed hepatitis A at some point during their lives, according to a 2005 article published in...
Hepatitis C is a serious liver-damaging disease caused by a hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatitis C virus injures healthy liver cells, interfering with the liver's ability to function properly. Panax ginseng is the most commonly used ginseng...
Of the several types of hepatitis viruses that cause infection resulting in liver damage, only hepatitis types A and B can be prevented by vaccines. Twinrix, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is the only vaccine to combine protection against...
Other than annual pap smears for women, very few people have regular STD tests. If you are sexually active, having annual STD tests is essential. Let your doctor know which STD test you want to have---each one is tested differently. During the...
Jaundice, also known by its medical name of icterus, is a condition characterized by yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. The mucus membranes, such as those in the mouth, may also take on a yellow hue in people suffering from jaundice....
Cirrhosis is a potentially life-threatening illness in which healthy liver tissue is replaced with nonliving scar tissue. The disease does not develop overnight, but, rather, it stems from several years of ongoing damage to the liver. This damage...
A low WBC, or white blood count, is called leukopenia. There are several types of white blood cells, including neutrophils and lymphocytes. White blood cells are the body's main defense against infection, and the function of the immune system can...
Your liver is a major organ that handles over 200 bodily processes. including blood filtering, producing bile, and storing fat soluble vitamins. In an adult, the liver weighs about 3 lbs. and is located beneath your ribs, in the upper portion of...
Hand washing is a simple, effective way to avoid sharing germs. Health authorities, such as the Mayo Clinic and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, agree on basic hand washing procedures. Follow their recommendations to become your...
Hepatitis is the term used to indicate liver inflammation. Children with hepatitis often have other symptoms, such as pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, where the liver is located, and jaundice, a yellowish discoloration the skin....
You flush the toilet and turn to the bathroom sink to clean your hands. Both hand soap and water and waterless-hand sanitizer are available. Research suggests that both methods kill germs, but one method is better at killing the germs that lead to...
The liver serves many metabolic functions, including the production of enzymes, which are chemicals that help reactions occur in the body. Inflammation or other conditions that affect the liver can cause these enzymes to leak out into the...
Viruses are in a class of their own, not quite alive and not quite dead. They are incapable of replicating without a host. There are numerous viruses around the world.
Communicable diseases (also called infectious diseases) are those that can be transmitted from person to person both directly and indirectly. Diseases in this category are a leading cause of the world's morbidity and mortality and strike both the...
Viral hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by several different viruses namely, hepatitis A, B, C, D and E, explains the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The hepatitis B, C, and D viruses can...
There are several different types of hepatitis caused by different viruses. The most common ones are hepatitis A, B and C. All three types of hepatitis cause inflammation in the liver. Hepatitis A is usually not as serious as B or C but can still...
Autoimmune hepatitis -- a disease in which your immune system targets your hepatocytes, or liver cells -- affects both men and women, although women are more likely to develop this condition. In fact, approximately 70 percent of people with this...
The five types of hepatitis that occur in the U.S. are A, B, C, D and E. While hepatitis C infects millions of people in the U.S., no vaccine is available. Hepatitis D and E are less prevalent forms of the infection. You can only get hepatitis...
The liver is one of the largest and most important organs of the body. The liver has more than 500 functions. It regulates most chemical levels in the blood and, by excreting bile, helps to break down fats. The blood leaving the intestines, with...
The blood contains small amounts of two proteins: albumin and globulin. Albumin helps keep fluid inside of your blood vessels from leaking out into the body. Globulins include a large variety of enzymes and proteins that perform different...
Arginine alpha-ketoglutarate is a popular dietary supplement among bodybuilders and other types of athletes. Taking arginine alpha-ketoglutarate supplements may protect against viral growth and reduce inflammation in patients with hepatitis, a...
Blood-borne viruses are a broad group of infections that can be detected in a blood test. Some common viruses include hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and mononucleosis. HIV and some types of hepatitis are transmitted through the...
Hepatitis is a range of liver diseases that involve an inflammation of the liver. Most forms of hepatitis result from infection with a hepatitis virus. In autoimmune hepatitis, the immune system attacks the liver, causing an inflammation. The most...
Increased levels of liver enzymes indicate inflammation, injury or damage to liver cells. The most commonly found elevated liver enzymes in blood tests are alanine transaminase, or ALT, and aspartate transaminase, or AST. In most cases, high...
Hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver. Several common viruses, designated by letters, cause hepatitis. Hepatitis A, B and C, the most common types of hepatitis, the Centers for Disease Control states, infect around 85,000 people in the...
Hepatitis B is a type of liver disease caused by a virus. Typically an infant or child is given the hep B vaccine to prevent developing this infection. When the virus enters the body, it can cause serious liver problems that may result in liver...
Hepatitis refers to liver inflammation. There are several types of hepatitis caused by viruses, such as A, B or C. Acute hepatitis can be caused by such a virus or by medications, alcohol or chemicals that damage the liver. Hepatitis cases are...
Communicable diseases are caused by pathogens passed from one human to another. Pathogens are viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal. Methods of transmission include mucus, blood, breath, saliva and sexual contact. Contaminated surfaces, such as...
