Essential Human Virology (Second Edition) Chapter 12 - Hepatitis Viruses

Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver. Excessive alcohol consumption, drugs, toxins, and metabolic disorders can cause hepatitis, but several viruses are also a major cause of the condition. The disparate collection of viruses that cause hepatitis are known as hepatitis viruses. Worldwide, viral hepatitis is one of the top 10 infectious disease causes of death. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C cause 80% of global liver cancer cases, and over 325 million people around the world are living with chronic hepatitis. This chapter discusses the clinical aspects, epidemiology, and molecular virology of the major hepatitis viruses.