GI Disease Flashcards
What is hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver
What are the two types of abscesses in the liver
- Pyogenic- derived from organisms in the gut
- Amoebic
Presentation of acute viral hepatitis
- Malaise
- Anorexia
- Nausea
- Abdominal discomfort in RUQ
- Pyrexia (fever)
- Pale stool/dark urine
- Jaundice
How do you acquire Hepatitis A virus
Faecal-oral route (entry via contaminated food or water)
Consequences of infection of hepatitis A
- Asymptomatic infection
- Acute icteric hepatitis (pale stools, dark urine and jaundice)
- Fulminant hepatitis (rare) (liver failure)
Presentation of Hepatitis B infection
Asymptomatic
Acute icteric (acutely jaundiced)
Fulminant hepatitis (liver failure)
Chronic infection – virus is present within hepatocytes.
What is the consequence of being chronically infected with hepB
Cirrhosis
Chronic hepatitis
Healthy
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Difference between Hepb and HepA
HepB may lead to chronic infection
how may you get infected with HepB
Perinatal (mother to baby at birth)
Sexual
Parenteral (unsafe injections, transfusion)
Diagnostic markers of acute hepatitis B
Surface antigen (HBsAg positive)
if someone is HBsAg positive, you do an IgM anti-HBc test and if it is positive, it means they have recently been infected with hep B and have acute infection
What is a chronic hepB infection defined as
Persistence of HBsAg for >6 months
What does an E antigen positive (HBeAg) test tell you about the person with chronic HBV
There is high infectivity and there is an increased risk of inflammatory liver disease
What does an Anti-HBe positive test tell you about a chronic HBV infection
Low infectivity and there is a lower risk of inflammatory liver disease
How to prevent HBV infection
Simple precautions such as not sharing toothbrushes and other things
- Passive immunisation by hepatitis B immunoglobulin
- Hepatitis B vaccine
How is HepE spread
Faecal-oral spread
