Hepatitis is characterized by which of the following?

Hepatitis is characterized by which of the following?

• A. Inflammation of the liver
• B. A bacterial infection
• C. A liver disease of unknown cause
• D. A digestive disorder

Answer: (A)

Hepatitis is defined by inflammation of the liver. This inflammation is the main feature, arising from various causes such as viral infections (the common hepatitis viruses), toxins, autoimmune processes, or other factors. Because the defining issue is swelling and injury to liver tissue, the best description is inflammation of the liver. The other options don’t fit as well: hepatitis isn’t primarily a bacterial infection (most cases involve viruses or other non-bacterial causes), it isn’t simply a liver disease of unknown cause (there are recognized viral and non-infectious causes), and it isn’t a digestive disorder even though the liver aids digestion.

Hepatitis is defined by inflammation of the liver. This inflammation is the main feature, arising from various causes such as viral infections (the common hepatitis viruses), toxins, autoimmune processes, or other factors. Because the defining issue is swelling and injury to liver tissue, the best description is inflammation of the liver. The other options don’t fit as well: hepatitis isn’t primarily a bacterial infection (most cases involve viruses or other non-bacterial causes), it isn’t simply a liver disease of unknown cause (there are recognized viral and non-infectious causes), and it isn’t a digestive disorder even though the liver aids digestion.