Hepatitis Self Learning Flashcards
What are the most important viral causes of hepatitis in the UK?
A, B, C, E
What else must be done when Viral Hepatitis is diagnosed, separate to the patient?
Notify public health
What is anicteric illness?
Symptoms with no jaundice
What is icteric illness?
Symptoms with jaundice
What is fulminant hepatitis?
Severe jaundice with hepatic failure and high mortality
What Liver enzymes are raised in hepatitis? Why?
ALT
AST
Released into serum by damaged hepatocytes
What are the initial clinical features of Hepatitis A?
Mild/subclinical
Anicteric in children <5
How does the severity of HAV vary with age?
Increased severity with age
What is the incubation period of HAV?
28 days (10-50)
What is the post-incubation presentation of HAV?
Fever Malaise Anorexia N+V Upper abdominal pain Followed by jaundice later
How is HAV spread?
Fecal-oral
Rarely fecal contaminated food/water
Where is HAV endemic?
Worldwide
When are HAV patients infectious?
1 week before onset of jaundice, few days after
Which groups of the population are at risk of HAV?
MSM
IVDA
What type of virus is HAV?
Picornavirus
How does HAV present in the serum?
Anti-HAV IgM
How is HAV treated?
Supportive
When is Anti-HAV IgG raised?
Commonly in the general population >60
How is HAV prevented?
Personal Hygiene
Sanitation
Human Normal Immunoglobulin for close contacts to patient
Killed virus Vaccine
When is active immunisation against HAV indicated?
Risk of exposure:
- Sewage workers
- Seronegative haemophiliacs
- MSM
- Patients with CLD
When does Acute Hepatitis occur after HBV infection?
Weeks - 6 months
What are the symptoms of HBV infection?
Anorexia Lethargy Nausea Fever Abdominal discomfort Arthralgia Urticarial skin lesions Dark urine Jaundice
How severe is Acute HBV?
Typically mild in 99%
What are the infection outcomes for HBV?
Recovery 90-95%
Chronic Infection 5-10%
What type of virus is HBV?
Hepadnavirus
What are the viral forms seen in the blood in HBV?
Infectious virus particles
Non-infectious spheres and tubules
What antigens are associated with HBV?
HBsAg (surface)
HBcAg (core)
HBeAg (“e”)
What is the most important marker in HBV infection?
HBsAg
What does HBeAg +ve tell us about chronically infective individuals?
Highly infectious
At risk of chronic liver disease and hepatoma
What does HBsAg +ve but HBeAg negative tell us?
Highly infectious with high serum HBV DNA with a mutant HBV genome
What are the main routes of transmission of HBV?
Perinatal
Sexual
Parenteral
Where is HBV most common?
SEA China Equatorial Africa Oceania South America
Where is HBV of “intermediate rate”?
East Europe
Mediterranean
South America
Middle east
Where is HBV least common?
Western Europe
North America
Australia
What are the major predisposing risk factors for HBV in the UK?
MSM IVDA immigration Learning disability in residential care Haemodialysis/Haemophilia Babies born to mothers with HBV Tattooing/body piercing Medical equipment
What is the risk of perinatal infection in babies born to HBeAg mothers? How is it managed?
90% if no preventative immunisation given
How is acute HBV virus diagnosed?
HBsAg
Later: anti-HBc IgM antibodies
Seroconversion in serological profile