title: Overview of viral hepatitis.
abstract: Viral hepatitis is a general term that is reserved for infections of the liver caused by one of at least six distinct hepatitis viruses, designated hepatitis virus A, B, C, D, E, and G/GB. The human hepatitis viruses are a group of diverse pathogens that share an ability to cause inflammation and necrosis of the liver. The most notable sign of this disease is jaundice, an orange-yellow discoloration of the scleroproteins of the skin and conjunctivae caused by the deposition of bilirubin in the blood resulting from faulty excretion of bile pigment by damaged hepatocytes.
authors: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors: F B
authors: FB
authors: Hollinger
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral