Viral Hepatitis

Question 1

Hepatitis Symptoms

Answer 1

Fever
Fatigue
Puritus, polyarthritis
Jaundice, dark urine, pale stools (B and C only)
Nausea
Anorexia
Distaste for cigarettes
Hepatomegaly

Question 2

Hepatitis B

Answer 2

DNA
Bodily fluids; semen, saliva, blood, vertical transmission
Incubation: 1-5 months
Acute, can be chronic, linked to malignancy
Jaundice
Immunisation exists and is long-lasting, though patients may not respond to immunisation
Test: HBSurface AntiGen
Treatment: interferon, lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir, tenofivir

Question 3

Hepatitis D

Answer 3

RNA
Can only infect Hepatitis B positive patients
Incubation: 1-3 months
IVDU commonly affected
Do not immunise because we immunise HepB
Acute

Question 4

Hepatitis A

Answer 4

RNA
Asia, especially children and young adults
Fecal-oral transmission, saliva; shellfish, clams, water
Incubation: 2-6 weeks
Acute
Immunisation exists
Test: IgM, Anti-HAV

Question 5

Hepatitis E

Answer 5

RNA
Water spread; developing world affected due to poor sanitation
Incubation: 3-8 weeks
Chronic
No immunisation
Test: Anti HEV, IgG, IgM

Question 6

Hepatitis C

Answer 6

RNA
Holiday hepatitis; blood products, needles, saliva (Western World)
Incubation: 2-6 months
Acute, can be chronic, linked to malignancy (rare)
Jaundice
No immunisation but therapy exists (Interferon and antivirals)
Test: Anti-HCV
Treatment: interferon, ribavirin