What is the medical term for inflammation of the liver?

The medical term for inflammation of the liver is hepatitis. The word describes inflammation of liver tissue, regardless of whether the cause is an infection, alcohol, medication, toxin, autoimmune disease, or metabolic disorder.

Several viruses cause named forms of viral hepatitis, including hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. These infections differ in how they spread and whether they are likely to become chronic. Hepatitis A is commonly linked to contaminated food or water, while hepatitis B and C can spread through infected blood and other bodily fluids.

Hepatitis is often confused with cirrhosis, but they are not synonyms. Hepatitis is inflammation; cirrhosis is advanced scarring that can develop after long-term liver injury. Gastroenteritis affects the stomach and intestines, while pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas.

Symptoms may include fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, or jaundice, but some people have no symptoms. Persistent inflammation can cause fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. Vaccines help prevent hepatitis A and B, while hepatitis C can usually be cured with modern antiviral treatment.