hepatitis

/,hepə'taitis/
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hepatitis

A doctor explains a diagram of a healthy liver and one affected by hepatitis.

Definition

Noun: - Inflammation of the liver: A medical condition characterized by the swelling and damage of liver tissue. It is most commonly caused by a viral infection but can also result from exposure to toxins, certain drugs, or autoimmune diseases.

Usage
  • As a subject: Hepatitis is a serious global health concern.
  • As an object: The doctor diagnosed him with hepatitis.
  • With modifiers: Viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, and autoimmune hepatitis are different forms of the disease.
Examples
  • General statement: Hepatitis can lead to liver failure if left untreated.
  • With a type specified: Hepatitis A is often spread through contaminated food or water.
  • In a medical context: The patient was admitted for treatment of acute hepatitis.
Advanced Usage
  • "Chronic hepatitis": Refers to a long-lasting inflammation of the liver, typically lasting more than six months.
    • Chronic hepatitis B requires ongoing medical management.
  • "Fulminant hepatitis": A rare, severe form of hepatitis that causes rapid liver failure.
    • Fulminant hepatitis is a medical emergency.
Variants and Related Words
  • Hepatitic (adjective): Pertaining to or affected by hepatitis.
    • The hepatitic patient showed elevated liver enzymes.
  • Hepatologist (noun): A doctor who specializes in liver diseases.
    • She was referred to a hepatologist for her complex liver condition.
Synonyms
  • Liver inflammation: A direct descriptive synonym.
  • Hepatic disease: A broader term for liver disorders, which includes hepatitis.
Related Phrases
  • "Hepatitis carrier": A person who is infected with a hepatitis virus and can transmit it to others, often without showing symptoms.
    • Screening identified him as a hepatitis B carrier.
  • "Hepatitis outbreak": The occurrence of more cases of hepatitis than expected in a given area or time period.
    • Public health officials are investigating a hepatitis A outbreak linked to a restaurant.
Idioms

(No common idioms are directly formed from the medical term "hepatitis".)

hepatitis

A doctor explains a diagram of a healthy liver and one affected by hepatitis.

Noun
  1. inflammation of the liver caused by a virus or a toxin