What is Hepatitis E?

Contents:

Medical Video: Hepatitis A and B | Nucleus Health

Hepatitis E is a potentially serious acute liver infection, caused by the HEV virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, there are around 20 million hepatitis E infections every year. Almost more than 56 thousand of them end in death.

Here are all the things you need to know about hepatitis E.

What causes hepatitis E?

Similar to hepatitis A, the hepatitis E virus is usually transmitted when a person consumes water or food that has been contaminated with faeces from other people infected with this virus. Transmission can even occur if you just swallow a little.

Your risk of getting infected with HEV can increase if you live or travel to a country with poor hygiene quality, especially in very densely populated areas. In addition, this disease can be transmitted through blood transfusions. Pregnant women who are infected can also transmit the virus to their fetus. Even rarer, hepatitis E can be transmitted from infected animals.

The body will usually heal itself in a few weeks. In other cases, this virus results in liver failure.

Who is at high risk for hepatitis E infection?

Everyone can get hepatitis. But there are several factors that can increase your risk of getting hepatitis E, namely::

  • Poor personal hygiene and the entry of the hepatitis E virus into feces when defecating
  • Unprotected sex (anal, oral, vaginal) with multiple sex partners or with someone infected with HEV
  • Live with someone who suffers from chronic HEV infection
  • Traveling to areas with high HEV infection rates

What are the signs and symptoms of hepatitis E?

In general, the symptoms of HEV can appear about 2 to 7 weeks after exposure to the virus, and usually last for about 2 months. Common symptoms of hepatitis E include:

  • Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
  • Dark urine like tea
  • Joint pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Abdominal pain
  • Swelling of the liver
  • Acute liver failure
  • Nausea
  • Gag
  • Fatigue
  • Fever

See a doctor immediately if you suspect signs or symptoms of hepatitis E.

What are the complications of hepatitis E that might occur?

Most people infected with HEV as adults can recover fully with only a few complications. The mortality rate for this virus is low.

However, in rare cases this infection can cause life-threatening liver failure. Pregnant women who are positive for HEV are most at risk of having this fatal complication. The risk for people with weakened immune systems for chronic hepatitis E infection is higher than other groups.

How do doctors diagnose hepatitis E?

Doctors usually advise you to take blood tests to detect the presence of hepatitis viruses in the body, and whether there are antibodies in the body.Blood tests can help doctors start treatment or advocate lifestyle changes that can slow down the process of liver damage.

What hepatitis E treatments are available?

The goal of treatment is to get rid of the virus from the body. If your immune system is strong enough, you might not need medication. Your doctor can advise you to:

  • Rest at home until your energy returns. Once you feel better, don't rush to get back to your usual routine. If you try to reactivate quickly, you can feel sick again.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Choose high-calorie liquids such as fruit juice and broth soup.
  • Live a healthy diet, avoid certain foods
  • Don't drink alcohol or use drugs. Both can damage the liver.

Hepatitis E medicine

For the first step to treat hepatitis E, doctors usually use immunosuppression therapy. As a result, HEV viral load (the amount of virus in the blood) can be reduced by up to 30% in patients.

For patients whose immunosuppression therapy cannot be reduced and for those whose virus is not reduced after using immunosuppression, it is recommended to use antiviral therapy. Ribavirin monotherapy (600-1000 mg / day) for a minimum of 3 months will be prescribed as a first choice.

Tell your doctor all the drugs you use, including herbal medicines. Do not start or stop any medication without consulting a doctor first.

Liver transplant

Patients infected with chronic HEV and who have undergone a liver transplant will usually be recommended for pegylated interferon alpha therapy for 3-12 months. However, this treatment can lead to significant side effects and organ rejection in transplant recipients, especially heart or kidney grafts.

If you have a weakened immune system or are pregnant, see your doctor. You may need to be hospitalized.

Can transmission of hepatitis E be prevented?

Do not carelessly consume water that is not clean or raw food or not peeled. This includes fruits, vegetables, and shellfish, which are usually rinsed with water. Instead, drink purified water or cooking water. Always make it wash your hands as part of your daily habits, especially after from the toilet also before and after preparing food.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

What is Hepatitis E?
Rated 4/5 based on 2900 reviews
💖 show ads