Hepatitis is defined as...

Hepatitis is defined as...

• A. It causes inflammation of the kidneys
• B. It causes inflammation of the skin
• C. It causes inflammation of the liver
• D. It causes inflammation of the brain

Answer: (C)

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Inflammation means the liver tissue is irritated or damaged, often from viral infection, toxins such as alcohol or drugs, or autoimmune processes. This can impair liver functions like filtering toxins, producing bile, and making clotting factors, and may lead to signs such as right upper-quadrant tenderness, fatigue, and jaundice with elevated liver enzymes on labs. In EMS, recognizing hepatitis is important for infection-control precautions and providing supportive care. Inflammation of other organs would be described differently, such as inflammation of the kidneys, skin, or brain.

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Inflammation means the liver tissue is irritated or damaged, often from viral infection, toxins such as alcohol or drugs, or autoimmune processes. This can impair liver functions like filtering toxins, producing bile, and making clotting factors, and may lead to signs such as right upper-quadrant tenderness, fatigue, and jaundice with elevated liver enzymes on labs. In EMS, recognizing hepatitis is important for infection-control precautions and providing supportive care. Inflammation of other organs would be described differently, such as inflammation of the kidneys, skin, or brain.