Which organ is affected by hepatitis?

• A. Heart
• B. Lungs
• C. Liver
• D. Kidneys

Answer: (C)

Hepatitis means inflammation of a specific organ, the liver. The liver is responsible for detoxifying substances, producing bile, and making clotting factors, so when it becomes inflamed its function is impaired. That impairment leads to signs like jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, right upper quadrant discomfort, and fatigue. In EMS practice, recognizing that hepatitis targets the liver helps you anticipate potential complications such as bleeding tendency from reduced clotting factors or confusion from liver failure in severe cases, and it guides avoiding further liver injury. The other organs listed are not the primary targets of hepatitis; they may be affected in broader illness, but hepatitis specifically involves the liver.