Hepatitis A

Question 1

What is the causative agent of Hep A?

Answer 1

Picornavirus

Question 2

What is the reservoir of Hep A causative agent?

Answer 2

Humans

Question 3

How is Hep A transmitted?

Answer 3

Waterborne - virus is spread when an uninfected and unvaccinated person ingests food or water contaminated with faeces of an infected person

Question 4

What are the risk groups of Hep A?

Answer 4

• International travelers
• childcare-givers
• persons with chronic liver disease
• injection drug users

Question 5

What is the period of communicability of Hep A?

Answer 5

1-2 weeks before symptoms OR up until 1 week after onset of jaundice (yellow skin)

Question 6

What are the symptoms of Hep A?

Answer 6

• none in some ppl (esp < 5y/o’s)

- mild symptoms - fever, anorexia, nausea, jaundice

Question 7

Diagnosis methods of Hep A

Answer 7

Anti-IgM detected 5-10 days before symptoms

Question 8

Treatment of Hep A

Answer 8

no specific treatment

Question 9

Preventive methods of Hep A

Answer 9

• Vaccination of inactivated whole virus

* recommended for risk groups

Question 10

What is the causative agent of Hep B?

Answer 10

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

Question 11

Method of transmission of Hep B

Answer 11

Through contact with blood / body fluids of infected person

Question 12

Where is HBV found in highest concentration?

Answer 12

In blood, lower [] in body fluids (semen, vaginal secretion etc)

Question 13

How long is the incubation period of HBV?

Answer 13

120 days

Question 14

Symptoms of Hep B

Answer 14

not specific, can be

• malaise (general sense of illness)
• fever
• headache
• myalgia (muscle pain)

Question 15

Complications of Hep B

Answer 15

chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis (impaired liver functioning, massive fluid build up in abdomen)

Question 16

Diagnosis method of Hep B

Answer 16

searching for a number of different antigens and antibodies

Question 17

Treatment for Hep B

Answer 17

acute - no medication, supportive treatment

chronic - medical evaluation, regular monitoring

Question 18

Causative agent of Hep c

Answer 18

Hepatitis C Virus (flavivirus)

Question 19

What is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the US?

Answer 19

Hepatitis C Virus infection

Question 20

Method of transmission of HCV

Answer 20

Percutaneous

• injecting drug use
• transfusion, transplant from infected donor
• therapeutic (contaminated equipment etc)
• occupational (needle stick)

Per-mucosal

• perinatal
• sexual

Question 21

Treatment / prevention of Hep C

Answer 21

• no vaccine :(

Question 22

Causative agent of Hep D

Answer 22

HDV - incomplete virus that can’t survive on its own, requires:

• a protein that HBV makes to enable it to infect liver cells
• helper function of HBV to replicate

*hence, commonly occur among people infected with HBV

Question 23

Transmission of HDV

Answer 23

Percutaneous / mucosal contact

Question 24

Signs and Symptoms of Hep D

Answer 24

chronic - cirrhosis (sever liver scarring)

Question 25

Prevention of Hep D

Answer 25

Vaccination against Hep B

Question 26

Causative agent of Hep E

Answer 26

Hepatitis E Virus (many similarities with Hep A)

Question 27

Transmission of HEV

Answer 27

contaminated water

Question 28

Symptoms of Hep E

Answer 28

• little to no symptoms
  OR symptoms that occur 15-60 days after viral exposure
• fatigue
• poor appetite
• fever
• nausea
• jaundice (yellowing of skin, whites of eyes)

Question 29

Preventive methods for Hep E

Answer 29

• vaccine (only available in China)
• good sanitation measures
• good personal hygiene

Question 30

Which type of Hepatitis is transmitted through intestinal tract (enteric)?

Answer 30

Hepatitis E