Hepatitis E | Medtick
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Hepatitis E

What is it?

Viral infection caused by Hepatitis E causing swelling on liver.

  • The incubation period (the time one has the infection and then has symptoms) is around 15–60 days, three weeks after infection.
  • The symptoms are mild and last for a couple of weeks unless one already has liver disease.
  • Long term infection is rare with hepatitis E.
  • It tends to affect mainly 15-40 year olds.

Diagnosis Tests

  • HEV RNA can be detected in the blood and stools, which occurs shortly before the onset of symptoms. For patients with acute infection, HEV RNA can be detected in the blood for 3–6 weeks, and shedding in the stool can occur for 4–6 weeks.
  • Definitive diagnosis of HEV infection is usually based on the detection of specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibodies to the virus in the patient’s blood.
  • IgM antibodies, which are short-lived and detected over 4–6 months, appear first.
  • They are followed by the appearance of IgG antibodies, which are long-lasting and have increasing antibody over time.
Test Purpose Interpretation
Anti-HEV IgM antibody test (main diagnostic test) Detects recent or acute HEV infection Positive = acute/recent infection
Anti-HEV IgG antibody test Detects past exposure or immunity Positive indicates previous infection or exposure
HEV RNA PCR Detects HEV genetic material in blood or stool Confirms active infection and is useful in immunocompromised patients
Liver function tests (LFTs) Assesses liver injury Often shows raised ALT, AST, and bilirubin
Complete blood count (CBC/FBC) Supportive assessment May show nonspecific changes
Prothrombin time/INR Assesses liver function severity Prolonged INR may indicate severe liver failure
Liver ultrasound Evaluates liver structure and complications Used if severe disease or other liver problems are suspected

ChatGPT can make mistakes, the purpose of the tables above are for the diagnostic tools available only

There are at least four different genotypes: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

  • Genotypes 1 and 2 occur most commonly in developing countries in Africa and Asia.
  • Genotypes 3 and 4 primarily cause infections in developed nations.

World Health Organization. Hepatitis E fact sheet. 2017. Available at: http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-e (accessed October 2018)

Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can be used sparingly under medical supervision, however Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs is not recommended in asthma or asthma type symptoms. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs should not be used if one has cirrhosis (end-stage liver disease), check with your Medical doctor/Pharmacist when one can have any type of fever reducing medication and the appropriate dose to make sure it suitable for you.

Cause

  • Poor sanitation and poor sewerage system areas.
  • Caught by putting something in the mouth that has been touched by someone who has Hepatitis E by not washing hands properly or poor personal hygiene.
  • Drinking infected water or eating salads infected with water.
  • Raw or undercooked meat (e.g. pork and shellfish) derived from infected animals
  • Contaminated shellfish.

Treatments

  • Through transfusion of infected blood products

Symptoms

  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Joint pain and stiffness?
  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours?
  • Changes in the way things taste or smell (smokers will often develop a sudden distaste for cigarettes)?
  • Pain in the upper right part of the abdomen (generally mild, but constant)?
  • Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days?
  • Diarrhoea?
  • Red and/or raised hive rash (especially hepatitis B)?
  • Itching?

Then within 2-5 days the infection will trigger the build-up of bilirubin (an orange-yellow pigment produced when the liver breaks down old red blood cells).

Further symptoms include (if these symptoms occurs one needs urgent medical advice):

  • Jaundice (yellowing of skin and whites of the eyes)?
  • Dark coloured urine?
  • Pale or clay-coloured stools?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

This condition can lead to:

  • Long term tiredness
Symptoms can take four to eight weeks to clear

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

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