Tropical liver disease

The liver is frequently involved in infections that are prevalent in different regions of the tropics, and chronic liver disease, sometimes with multiple aetiological explanations, is an important cause of early morbidity and mortality. This article describes some hepatic and biliary problems that are seen in the tropics or can be imported from resource-poor settings. The epidemiology of hepatitis A is changing in some areas, and hepatitis E is now recognized in an increasing range of tropical and non-tropical settings.