Acute Hepatitis Flashcards
What type of virus is hepatitis A and how is it transmitted?
it is an RNA virus
it is transmitted via the faecal-oral route
this is usually via contaminated food
What are the risk factors for hepatitis A infection?
What are its specific features?
- travelling (e.g. Africa / Asia)
- contaminated food and/or water
- it commonly has an acute presentation
What type of virus is hepatitis B?
How is it transmitted?
it is a DNA virus
it can be transmitted parentally, sexually or vertically
parenteral transmission means that it is transmitted by any mechanism outside of the alimentary canal
e.g. subcutaneous, intravenously, intramuscularly
What are the risk factors and specific features for hepatitis B?
- bodily fluids and contaminated blood (e.g. IVDU)
- it is commonly an acute presentation
What type of virus is hepatitis C?
How is it transmitted?
it is an RNA virus
transmission is mainly parenteral
What are the risk factors for hepatitis C infection?
What are its specific features?
- contaminated blood (e.g. IVDU)
- this infection is usually asymptomatic and chronic
What type of virus is hepatitis D and how is it transmitted?
it is an RNA virus
it is transmitted parentally or sexually
What are the risk factors and specific features of hepatitis D?
- bodily fluids and contaminated blood
- it only co-infects with hepatitis B
if you are negative for hepatits b, then you cannot get hepatitis d
What type of virus is hepatitis E and how is it transmitted?
it is an RNA virus
it is transmitted via the faecal-oral route
What are the risk factors and specific features for hepatitis E?
- contaminated food and/or water
- it has a very high mortality with pregnant women
What are the symptoms of viral hepatitis?
- RUQ pain
- pruritis
- nausea and/or vomiting
- anorexia
- joint pain
What are the clinical signs of viral hepatitis?
- RUQ tenderness
- jaundice
What blood tests are done when viral hepatitis is suspected?
- Liver function tests (LFTs)
- raised AST and ALT > 1000 IU/L
- low albumin
- prothrombin time will be raised
- serology is performed to identify specific antibodies
- acute damage to the liver is shown through high bilirubin, low albumin and prolonged PTT
What is looked for when performing hepatitis B serology?
- HBsAg is a marker of active infection
-
HBsAb is a marker of immunity
- this indicates the person has had an infection in the past
- Anti-HBc IgM (core IgM) indicates there is an acute infection
- Anti-HBc IgG (core IgG) indicates a PAST acute infection
When performing hepatitis B serology, what does the presence of HBeAg and HBV DNA suggest?
- HBeAg suggests active replication indicating infectiousness
- HBV DNA suggests active replication and is used to monitor response to treatment
