Hepatitis is best described as what?

• A. A blood borne virus that causes disease and can damage the liver; can live on surfaces outside of the body for a long time
• B. An immune disorder affecting the liver
• C. A bacterial infection that does not affect the liver
• D. A fungal infection of the liver

Answer: (A)

Hepatitis is a viral infection that inflames and can damage the liver, and many hepatitis viruses are bloodborne and can survive outside the body on surfaces for a period of time. This description fits what you’d need to know in a practical esthetics setting: it identifies it as a virus that targets the liver and highlights that the virus can persist outside the body, which underscores the importance of strict infection control and proper disinfection to prevent cross-contamination. The other ideas describe immune disorders or infections caused by bacteria or fungi, which are not what hepatitis is.