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Digestive system

The digestive system turns food into nutrients that are absorbed by the body and removes waste. The mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, rectum and anus are involved.

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Topic: Liver

Liver

Some forms of liver disease are inherited, while others are caused by lifestyle factors.

Gilbert's syndrome

Gilbert’s syndrome and hepatitis both cause jaundice but are not related.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an umbrella term for several diseases that affect the liver.

Hepatitis A

Anyone can be infected with hepatitis A if they come in direct contact with food, drinks or objects contaminated by the faeces of an infected person.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and can lead to serious illness or death.

Hepatitis C

There is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C infection, but treatment is effective for up to two thirds of people affected.

Jaundice in babies

If your baby is full-term and healthy, mild jaundice is nothing to worry about and will resolve by itself within a week or so.

Liver - fatty liver disease

The damage caused by fatty liver disease can often be halted or reversed through simple lifestyle changes.

Liver - primary biliary cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis is an autoimmune condition characterised by inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts within the liver.

Liver cancer

Liver cancer can be a primary cancer that starts in the liver, or a secondary cancer that starts in another part of the body and spreads to the liver.

Liver disease - cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a type of liver damage where healthy cells are replaced by scar tissue.