hepatitis

noun
hep·​a·​ti·​tis | \ ˌhe-pə-ˈtī-təs How to pronounce hepatitis (audio) \
plural hepatitides\ ˌhe-​pə-​ˈti-​tə-​ˌdēz How to pronounce hepatitides (audio) \ also hepatitises\ ˌhe-​pə-​ˈtī-​tə-​səz How to pronounce hepatitises (audio) \

Definition of hepatitis

1 : inflammation of the liver
2 : a disease or condition (such as hepatitis A or hepatitis B) marked by inflammation of the liver

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Did You Know?

The liver, the body's largest gland, performs many important tasks, but is also vulnerable to many illnesses. At least five types of hepatitis, labeled with the letters A–E, are caused by viruses. The most common are hepatitis A, acquired through contaminated food and water; hepatitis B, which usually travels via sexual activity or shared needles; and hepatitis C, generally passed through shared needles. Some other types, including alcoholic hepatitis (caused by drinking too much alcohol), aren't infectious. There are vaccines for types A and B, and drug treatments for A, B, and C, though the drugs aren't always effective.

Examples of hepatitis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the context of the hepatitis scourge that ravaged people living on the street, things have improved. San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Why San Diego will never ‘solve’ homelessness," 21 Aug. 2019 Last year, there was a hepatitis-A outbreak in San Diego. Barnini Chakraborty, Fox News, "LA residents fed up with officials, demand change after homeless crisis spirals in city," 20 Aug. 2019 There was virtually no difference between doctors and laypersons in receiving post-cardiac care, or in vaccinations for diptheria/tetanus/pertussis and hepatitis. Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, "Doctors aren’t much better at picking the best medical treatments than laypersons," 8 July 2019 Other medical conditions like diabetes or hepatitis likely made some of the men more susceptible to infection when they were exposed to the bacteria, the study said. Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, "Flesh-eating bacteria becoming more common in Delaware Bay due to climate change, study finds," 18 June 2019 This was the case for all five of the patients, some of whom had untreated hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Four survived, thanks to antibiotics and surgeries to remove necrotic skin, and one died. Mandy Oaklander, Time, "Climate Change May Be Spreading Flesh-Eating Bacteria to Unexpected Waters," 17 June 2019 Five conditions showed especially dramatic discrepancies: cardiovascular disease, hepatitis, HIV, chronic kidney disease, and digestive disease. Katherine Ellen Foley, Quartz, "25 years of women being underrepresented in medical research, in charts," 3 July 2019 There are special events and educational programming, including classes that look at Baltimore’s history or events that encourage seniors to get checked for hepatitis-C, or learn about healthcare fraud and abuse. Cody Boteler, baltimoresun.com, "Lansdowne-Baltimore Highlands Senior Center celebrates 30 years," 21 June 2019 Chik is an RNA virus, just like influenza, West Nile virus, hepatitis and Ebola, among others. Quanta Magazine, "How Mutant Viral Swarms Spread Disease," 25 Aug. 2015

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hepatitis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of hepatitis

circa 1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for hepatitis

New Latin

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More Definitions for hepatitis

hepatitis

noun

English Language Learners Definition of hepatitis

medical : a serious disease of the liver that causes fever and makes your skin and eyes yellow

hepatitis

noun
hep·​a·​ti·​tis | \ ˌhe-pə-ˈtī-təs How to pronounce hepatitis (audio) \

Kids Definition of hepatitis

: a disease which is caused by a virus and in which the liver is damaged and there is yellowing of the skin and fever

hepatitis

noun
hep·​a·​ti·​tis | \ ˌhep-ə-ˈtīt-əs How to pronounce hepatitis (audio) \
plural hepatitides\ -​ˈtit-​ə-​ˌdēz How to pronounce hepatitides (audio) \ also hepatitises\ -​ˈtīt-​ə-​səz \

Medical Definition of hepatitis

1 : inflammation of the liver
2 : a disease or condition (as hepatitis A or hepatitis B) marked by inflammation of the liver

Other Words from hepatitis

hepatitic \ -​ˈtit-​ik How to pronounce hepatitic (audio) \ adjective

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