Session 8 - Hepatitis Flashcards
Define hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver
How are Hep B and C spread
Bodily fluids
Which types of hepatitis leads onto chronic illness
B and C
What are the symptoms of viral hepatitis
Nausea, jaundice, stomach ache, poor appetite, fever, fatigue, GI upset, vomiting
What is the virus structure for hepatitis B
- double stranded DNA
- enveloped
What is the viral structure of hep C
- single stranded RNA
- enveloped
What is the viral structure for hepatitis A and E
- single stranded RNA
- non enveloped
What would the blood tests for bilirubin, ALT and ALP for a positive hepatitis result look like (liver function test)
Increased bilirubin - liver cant conjugate bilirubin properly so cant be excreted therefore builds up
Increased ALT - enzyme normally found inside hepatocytes but are released in damage. Indicates the degree of inflammation.
Slightly Increased ALP - enzyme found in bile ducts so an increase indicates blockage of bile duct (through inflammation)
What are the types of jaundice
prehaptic = increased haemoglobin breakdown
Cholestatic
- intrahepatic = bilirubin not conjugated so cant be excreted (hepatitis causes this)
- extrahepatic = gall bladder blocked
What happens to the albumin and coagulation factor levels in hepatitis
Decreased due to the liver damage
Who is most at risk of transmission of hep b
- vertical transmission is the highest risk
- sexual contact
- injecting drugs
- needlestick
What is the incubation period for hepatitis
6 weeks to 6 months
How common is it for hep b to become chronic
Rare - less than 10% of adults
Describe the order of the hepatitis B serology results
- surface antigen produced by virus appears first
- e-antigen then appears
- core antibody (IgM) appears
- e-antibody appears
- surface antibody then disappears last
- core antibody IgG persists for life
What is the definition of chronic hep b
Persistence of HBsAG after 6 months