Hepatitis Flashcards
Does Hepatitis A cause an acute or chronic infection?
Always acute- there is no risk of chronic liver disease
How is Hepatitis A spread?
Via the faecal oral route
What Hepatitis A test positive indicates an acute infection?
anti-HAV IgM
Is there a vaccine for Hepatitis A?
Yes- it is usually only given to at risk people
Does Hepatitis B cause an acute or chronic infection?
It can cause both, chronic infection is more likely to occur if the individual is infected in childhood. Acute is more likely to occur in adults.
How is Hepatitis B spread?
Unprotected sex with infected person, mother to child or infected blood transfusions
What are complications of Hepatitis B?
Can get chronic infection leading to cirrhosis which could then result in liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma
Is there a vaccine for Hepatitis B?
Yes- starting to be given to everyone, but lots of adults have missed out
How can chronic Hepatitis B be managed?
Managed by antivirals e.g. peginterferon, entecavir or tenofovir
Peginterferon is the only one that properly cures- the rest only suppress
Does Hepatitis C cause a chronic or acute infection?
Most people are infected chronically
How is Hepatitis C usually picked up?
Many people are asymptomatic and are picked up on an abnormal blood test
How is Hepatitis C transmitted?
Unprotected sex with infected person, mother to child or infected blood transfusions
Complications of chronic Hep C?
Over decades you get gradual fibrosis leading to cirrhotic liver, ultimately risk of cancer and or liver failure
Is there a vaccine for hepatitis C?
No
How is chronic hepatitis C treated?
Managed by antivirals e.g. peginterferon, entecavir or tenofovir
Peginterferon is the only one that properly cures- the rest only suppress
Another name for hepatitis D?
Delta virus
What is hepatitis D activated by?
Activated by hepatitis B it cannot replicate on its own
How is diagnosis of Hepatitis D achieved?
Finding anti-delta antibody in patient with chronic liver disease who is also HBsAg- positive
Complications of Hepatitis D/ outcome?
There is much more rapid cirrhosis in patients than in those just infected with hepatitis B
What strain is Hepatitis E similar to?
Hepatitis A
Where is hepatitis E more common? What are UK infection thought to be from?
More common in the tropics- UK infections are thought to be from zoonoses (pigs)
What people can get chronic Hepatitis E infection?
Immunocompromised
Is there a vaccine for hepatitis E?
No
If someone is positive for Hepatitis B surface antigen
HBsAg
What does this mean?
The person is infected- it could be acute or chronic
If someone is positive for Hepatitis B core antibody
HBcAb
What does this mean?
The person has been infected in the past but is not necessarily immune
If someone is positive for Hepatitis B surface antibody
HBsAb
What does this mean?
Person has immunity through vaccine or natural infection
If someone is positive for Hepatitis B virus DNA
HBV DNA
What does this mean?
This is a measure. The higher the score the larger the amount of virus, this basically shows how active the virus is, how much it is multiplying.
