The word “hepatitis” means inflammation (swelling and pain) of the liver. Hepatitis can be caused by viruses (viral hepatitis), alcohol, drugs and other toxins.

Viral hepatitis is a common cause of liver inflammation, and there are 5 types: A, B, C, D, and E. While all these viruses affect the liver, they are spread in different ways and have different treatments.

Read more about hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.