4.2 Hepatitis Flashcards
What does hepatitis mean?
Hepat/o = liver -itis = inflammation
Inflammation of the liver
What are the primary cause of chronic liver disease?
hep b/c and alcohol
What causes hepatitis?
Viral infections
What typically causes the signs and symptoms of the liver problems?
Liver unable to breakdown products of erythrocytes, which causes an increase in bilirubin in blood
What does a excess bilirubin cause in urine?
It turns it dark amber
What does a excess bilirubin cause in feces?
It turns it pale
What does a excess bilirubin cause?
Jaundice in eyes and skin (even the brain)
What types of hepatitis are there?
- a, b, c, d and e
What type of hepatitis can you get from eating contaminated food?
Hep a and hep e
Which types of hepatitis can you get from blood and other bodily fluids?
Hep b, c and d
Does the hep a virus have an envelope?
No
Where do you find hep a viruses replicating?
In the epithelial lining of the oral cavity and intestines
What is the flow of hep a?
- ingested
- replicate in epithelial cells in oral cavity and intestines
- enters the circulatory system
- enters the liver and replicates in liver cells
- the bile leaving the liver will carry HAV to intestines
What is the incubation period for hep a?
15-50 days
When do symptoms of hep a usually evident?
2 weeks after exposure
Do most of the people infected with hep a recover with no evidence of liver damage?
Yes
Are there any evidence of chronic carriers for hep a?
No
Is replication of HBV fast or slow?
It’s slow therefore, it has a long incubation period
What are some features of the HBV?
It’s enveloped with spikes and has a nucleic core
What are the three antigenic areas on a viral particle?
- Hep b surface antigen
- Core antigen
- “e” antigen
* *these are all part of the protein coat that surrounds nucleic acid
During the active stage of HBV infection, what bodily fluids contain HBV?
Blood, salvia, spinal fluid, tears, urine, semen, vaginal secretion and mothers milk
What is considered the active stage of HBV?
When it’s actively replicating in the liver
What are the three types of infections associated with HBV?
- Asymptomatic (most people; 60-70%)
- Symptomatic
- Fulminant
What is fulminant infection?
rapid, sudden and severe
When do symptoms show for HBV?
2 weeks - 6 months
What’s the average incubation period for HBV?
3 months
