"The silent killer." That's how a headline in USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, described hepatitis. This life-threatening liver disease can go undetected for decades because it often causes no symptoms until serious liver damage has occurred. The good news is that new medications and research bring "hope, treatment, even cures." Millions of people around the world are diagnosed each year with viral hepatitis. In this book, you'll read case studies of people with various types of viral hepatitis and learn about the effects of this highly contagious yet preventable disease. You'll also find basic information about symptoms, transmission, prevention, and treatment to help you understand how to protect yourself, your friends, and your family from this serious disease.