Chapter 24: Digestive System Infections - Lower Viral + Liver Viral Flashcards
What viruses cause viral gastroenteritis?
enterovirus group:
- rotaviruses
- Norwalk virus
What are symptoms of viral gastroenteritis? (3)
- low fever
- diarrhea
- vomiting “stomach flu”
How can you treat viral gatroenteritis?
self-resolving in about a week
How is viral gastroenteritis transmitted? (2)
- faecal-oral route
- frequent cause of epidemic diarrhea
How can you treat viral gastroenteritis?
- rehydration therapy
How can you prevent gastroenteritis? (2)
- proper hand-washing
- vaccines exist against some enteroviruses (not all)
What is hepatitis? (2)
- inflammation of the liver
- caused by several different unrelated viruses
What is Hep A?
- Infectious hepatitis spread by fecal-oral route
what does hep A cause? (2)
- acute infection
- self resolving in a few months
What are symptoms of Hep A? (4)
- Malaise
- diarrhea
- nausea
- liver damage, jaundice
How can you treat hep A?
none
How can you prevent Hep A? (2)
inactivated whole agent vaccine - given to those at risk
post exposure - passive immunization with pre-made antibiotics
What is Hep B?
- serum hepatitis
How is Hep B transmitted?
- direct or indirect contact with body fluids (ex. blood, semen)
What infections does Hep B cause?
- most cases result in acute infection that are self- resolving
- some develop into chronic infection
What occurs in the liver as a result of Hep B? (4)
- Viruses multiplying inside liver cells induce a cell-mediated response
- Cell death can lead to cirrhosis, hardening of the liver
- Viral DNA is integrated into host cell genome as a provirus
- can lead to liver cancer
How is Hep B treated? (2)
- no cure
- treatment with antivirals to slow multiplication and prevent liver damage
How can you prevent Hep B?
- subunit vaccine given to children and those at risk
- avoiding contact with blood and other body fluids
What is Hep C?
Transfusion transmitted hepatitis
How is Hep C transmitted?
- indirect contact through fomites
ex. syringes, tattoos, and piercing equipment
Is there a delay between infection and detection for Hep C?
- delay of about 25 days
Hep C can cause chronic infection. What occurs here? (2)
- no apparent symptoms for about 20 years
- eventually result in cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer
How can you prevent Hep C? (2)
- no vaccine
- avoid contact with contaminated fomites
how can you treat Hep C? (2)
- combination of interferon and antivirals can cure hepatitis C
- current cost of treatment is around $80,000
