B18: Chronic viral hepatitis
Chronic viral hepatitis is a group of conditions caused by infection with different types of viruses, most commonly Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. These viruses primarily infect the liver, leading to inflammation and, over time, potentially serious damage. They may be transmitted through exposure to infected blood or body fluids, often through sharing needles or other drug-injection equipment, unprotected sexual contact, or from mother to child at birth. Symptoms, if present, can include fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and yellowing of the skin or eyes. However, many people have no symptoms, particularly in the early stages. Over a period of years or decades, chronic viral hepatitis can lead to liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver failure, or liver cancer.
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