Viral Hepatitis Flashcards
How is Hep A transmitted?
Faecal oral spread.
Grows in the liver and is excreted down into the bile gut and enters the gut and faeces.
Where is Hep A common?
Humanitarian crisis, porr hygiene/overcrowding.
UK- rare. Some cases are imported and occasional clusters in gay men and PWID
What are the clinical features of Hep A?
Acute hepatitis (no chronic infection)
When is the peak incidence of Hep A?
Older children/young adults
Very young children will have no symptoms
How does the laboratory confirm Hep A infection?
Clotted blood for serology looking for hepatitis A IgM.
What colour bottle do you put hepatitis blood samples into?
Gold top vaccucontainer
There is a Hep A vaccine. Who gets it?
Targeted people at risk.
Travelers
Gay men
PWID
Where is Hep E common?
In the tropics but in the UK is more common than Hep A
What causes UK cases of Hep E without foreign travel?
Exposure to Pigs, Deer or Rabbit or their meats.
These antimals are chronically infected
What is the clinical presentation of Hep E?
Acute inflammation of the liver
How is Hep E transmitted?
Faecal oral in the tropics
Can you get chronic infection with hep E?
Only if you are immunocomprimised.
Pregnant lady recently returned from the tropics with Hep E. Are you worried?
Yes as the tropical genotype of Hep E has been associated with severe disease in pregnant women.
Is ther a Hep E vaccination?
Not yet
When can you get Hep D?
Only if you have Hep B. You can be co infected with Hep B and D at the same time or have Hep B and then later get Hep D.
What is the clinical importance of Hep D?
Exacerbates Hep B infection- rare in scotland
How is Hep B transmitted?
Sex
Mother to child (most significant worldwide)
Blood (acupuncture, tattoos, PWID healthcare)
When is chronic infection with Hep B more likely?
If the first exposure was in childhood.
Young children often assymptomatiic and then become chronically infected.
Older people get acute symptoms and are treated avoiding chronic infection
Who are the people at risk of Hep B in the UK?
PWID
People born in areas of intermediate or high prevalence.
Multiple sexual partners
Children of infected mother
What defines chronic hepatitis infection?
Infection for >6 months
How do you confirm Hep B infection in the laboratory?
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is present in the blood of all infectious individuals.
Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) is usually present in the blood of highly infectious individuals
Hepatitis B viral DNA is always present in high titre in highly infectious individuals.
Hep B igM may be present in recently infected cases.
Anti Hep B antibody will be present in immunity
Hep B DNA tests are used in the diagnosis of Hep B. What else are they used for?
Predict risk of chronic liver disease and monitor therapy