Hepatitis

by Horn, Lyle W.; Alcamo, I. Edward; Heymann, David

• ISBN13: 9780791067024
• ISBN10: 0791067025
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-03-01
• Publisher: Chelsea House Pub

Summary

It is estimated that more than 500 million people throughout the world are infected with one of the six kinds of hepatitis viruses. Although hepatitis can be fatal, many people who are infected never show symptoms and don't realize they have the virus. This fact makes it easy for people to unknowingly spread the disease to others, especially through sexual contact. This book examines each of the six hepatitis viruses, focusing on how they cause infection, how they spread from one person to another, how they reproduce, and how our body's immune system tries to fight them. Also discussed are the ways that hepatitis-which has no cure-may be prevented or treated.

Table of Contents

Foreword
David Heymann, World Health Organization	6	(2)
1. Introduction to Hepatitis	8	(6)
2. The Phases of Hepatitis and Their Common Symptoms	14	(11)
3. Looking at the Liver	25	(9)
4. Inflammation and the Immune Response	34	(10)
5. The Story of Viruses	44	(12)
6. Hepatitis A	56	(9)
7. Hepatitis B	65	(11)
8. Hepatitis D	76	(8)
9. Hepatitis C	84	(10)
10. Hepatitides E and G	94	(10)
11. Conclusion	104	(6)
Appendix	110	(3)
Glossary	113	(5)
Bibliography	118	(1)
Further Reading	119	(1)
Websites	120	(1)
Index	121

Excerpts

Today, researchers are making major advances in treating hepatitis, although prevention and vaccination are currently the best ways to avoid the serious health effects of this disease.