Hepatitis E
Hep E diagnosis and management for doctors, medical students, finals and MRCP PACES
Epidemiology of hepatitis E
- Prevalent in developing countries
Causes of hepatitis E
- Faeco-oral spread is commonest
- Person-to-person spread is rare
- Animal reservoir: especially pigs
Video on the diagnosis of hepatitis E
Presentations of hepatitis E
- Mostly presents as an acute viral infection similar to Hepatitis A (see Hep A)
- Can progress to chronic infection, especially in immunocompromised individuals (solid-organ transplant recipients are particularly at risk)
Diagnosis of hepatitis E
- Serum HEV antibodies
Initial management of hepatitis E
- Supportive treatment for acute infection
- Ribavirin +/- peg-interferon for chronic infection
- A vaccine has now been developed and is approved for use in China
Complications of hepatitis E
- Chronic liver disease and its associated complications
- Pregnant women who contract HEV are at risk of acute fulminant liver failure
Prognosis of hepatitis E
- Usually a self-limiting disease with a good prognosis
- However, it has an overall mortality of 2%
- Pregnant women who contract HEV have a mortality of 20%, especially if infected in the 3rd trimester
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Common Hepatitis E exam questions for medical students, finals, OSCEs and MRCP PACES
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Perfect revision for medical students, finals, OSCEs and MRCP PACES