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
