Summary
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver brought on by viral infections, autoimmune diseases, alcohol abuse, exposure to toxins, or other causes. It is most commonly associated with viral hepatitis, which occurs in several different types, but it has also been linked to forms of cancer and other serious medical conditions such as cirrhosis.
Liver-related health problems are a growing concern. As many as four million Americans could be infected with some form of hepatitis C, the most common chronic infection in the United States, without even knowing it. Cirrhosis is the seventh most common cause of death in the United States.
The Encyclopedia of Hepatitis and Other Liver Diseases is a comprehensive guide to recognizing and understanding these medical conditions. With more than 150 entries, coverage ranges from symptoms, treatments, and research to tests, social issues, and much more. Appendixes list important relevant organizations, transplantation and Internet resources, and support groups for those with liver-related issues; also included is a detailed bibliography.
Entries include:
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Autoimmune liver disorders
- Cirrhosis
- Drugs and liver disease
- Fulminant hepatitis
- Hepatitis
- Liver cancer
- Occupational liver disease
- Portal hypertension
- Sarcoidosis
- Thyroid disease
- Transplants
- Vaccines for viral hepatitis.
Specifications
Index. Appendixes. Bibliography. Cross-references.
About the Author(s)
James H. Chow, M.D., specializes in emergency and family medicine. Before he went into private practice 16 years ago, he was the director of the emergency department at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago for seven years. As an emergency doctor at one of the busiest hospitals, he has encountered and treated almost every imaginable type of illness and injury. He is the founder, CEO, and president of multi-specialty clinics offering integrative medicine and diverse treatment modalities. In 1996, he helped set up a clinic in Beijing, China.
Cheryl Chow holds a B.A. in psychology from Reed College and has been a freelance writer, editor, and journalist for 20 years, concentrating on health and social issues. She has a diverse writing background, having written for magazines, newspapers and Webzines. Chow is a published author whose works have appeared in such anthologies as Naming the Daytime Moon, The Broken Bridge, and Tokyo Confidential. She contributes weekly columns to the Mainichi Daily News, and has been the editor of Ikebana International Magazine. She is a translator of health and business topics, and also worked as a translation checker for major publications, including Newsweek Japan, National Geographic, and the The Washington Post.