In medicine hepatitis is any disease featuring inflammation of the liver. Two of the viruses that cause hepatitis (hepatitis A and E) can be transmitted through water, food and from person to person. Hygiene is therefore important in their control.
The illness starts with an abrupt onset of fever, body weakness, loss of appetite, nausea and abdominal discomfort, followed by jaundice within a few days.

The disease may range from mild (lasing 1-2 weeks) to severe disabling disease (lasting several months).

Both hepatitis A and E are found worldwide. Hepatitis A is particularly frequent in countries with poor sanitary and hygienic conditions (in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America). Countries with economies in transition and some regions of industrialized countries where sanitary conditions are sub-standard are also high affected (southern and eastern Europe and some parts of the Middle East).

Primary source : http://www.lenntech.com/library/diseases
Source : http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/diseases/hepatitis/en/
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis