Viral hepatitis Flashcards
How is hepatitis A spread?
Faecal-oral route
Is hepatitis A acute or chronic?
Acute, there is no chronic disease
How is hepatitis A diagnosed?
Laboratory confirmation
Clotting blood for culture
Hepatitis A IgM antibodies
Which other hepatitis virus is clinically similar to hepatitis A?
Hepatitis E
Where is hepatitis E most common?
Tropics
Which other infection is hepatitis D only found with?
Hepatitis B - it exacerbates hepatitis B
How is hepatitis B transmitted?
Blood
Sex
Mother to child
When is chronic infection with hepatitis B most common?
First exposure in childhood
Which antigen in hepatitis B is present in all infectious individuals?
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
How long does the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) have to be present in the blood for the infection to be classed as chronic?
6 months
Which antigen is generally present in individuals with highly infectious hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) usually also present in highly infectious individuals
What other laboratory confirmation of hepatitis B can indicate how infectious an individual is?
Hep B virus DNA always also present in high titre (amount) in highly infectious individuals
Hep B DNA tests also used to predict risk of chronic liver disease and monitor therapy
Which antigen is present in individuals with hepatitis B in acute or recent infection?
Hep B IgM most likely to be present in recently infected cases
Which marker is an indication of either previous infection with hepatitis B or immunity to hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B surface antibody
Which two treatments in combination provide the best outcome for patients with hepatitis C?
Interferon alpha and ribavarin
Which treatment is more convenient than interferon alpha and why?
PEG-interferon
Requires once weekly dosing
