Hepatitis A to E Flashcards
Are the symptoms of acute viral hepatitis similar for all the viruses?
Yes. You could not tell which virus caused your symptoms without doing either serology or nucleic acid testing
All infections with Hepatitis viruses A to E are ________ infections
systemic
Describe the structure of Hepatitis A Virus (HAV), A-acute
Picornavirus, +ssRNA, Naken virus
Naked, very stable virus, stable in stomach acid
What is the primary route of HAV?
Fecal-oral
Are any HAV infections chronic?
No - all infections are acute infections
T/F: In regards to HAV, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are better than washing hands
FALSE - washing hands is better than alcohol-based hand sanitizers!
How is HAV shed?
In feces 1-2 weeks before symptoms and during symptoms
Once infected with HAV, how long is the person protected?
There is protection for life against reinfection
When infected with HAV, when is the person more likely to get jaundice?
If they become infected with HAV as an older child/adult.
Conversely, very young children and babies rarely develop jaundice when infected
What type of vaccine is available for HAV?
Inactivated virus vaccine
The vaccine has high efficacy in protecting from infection
If exposed to HAV, post-exposure prophylaxis:
1) Vaccination within 2 weeks of exposure
2) But if older and the risk of complications is high, or immunocompromised, or have preexisting lier damage, the recommendation is for both the vaccine and IgG at distal sites
3) Babies under one year of age should get IgG only
Describe the structure of Hepatitis E virus (HEV)
Own Family-Hepevirus = Hep E virus, _ssRNA, Naked virus
What is the primary route of infection for HEV?
contaminated drinking water and fecal/oral
HEV is a significant source of ________ outbreaks worldwide but not in the US
hepatitis
What type of infection is HEV?
Acute, no chronic
How does HEV affect pregnancy?
A high fatality rate in pregnancy
Think H E V with the E standing for expecting
What is the Vaccine for HEV?
No available vaccine or post-exposure prophylaxis
Describe the structure of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
Flavivirus, +ssRNA, enveloped
How is HCV spread?
-Primary spread is through shared needles, but it can spread through sex and vertical transmission
-Not fecal-oral
-Bloodborne infection
What is the risk of infection of HCV from a needle stick exposure?
0.2% (old number is 3%)
What is HCV known for?
-Its high number of chronic infections (H C V, the C is for chronic)
-If infected, about 80% will become chronically infected
-It is known as the silent infection because many do not know they’re infected