VIral Hepatitis Flashcards
Types of hepatitis viruses
Hepatitis A,B,C,D and E
Most prevalent hepatitis virus in the past
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A transmission
Faecal-oral spread
Poor hygiene, overcrowding, clusters such as gay men and PWID
Investigating hepatitis virus
Clotted blood for serology
Virus-specific Ig such as Hepatitis A IgM
Control of Hepatitis A
Hygiene, prophylactic vaccine
Most common hepatitis virus in the UK
Hepatitis E
How is hepatitis E commonly acquired in the UK
Zoonoses, often from pigs
What virus is often found with Hepatitis B and exacerbates Hepatitis B infection
Hepatitis D
Transmission of Hepatitis B
Sex - Multiple sexual partners
Mother to child - Infected mother
Blood - PWID
Born in areas of high prevalence
Investigating Hepatitis B
Blood test for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg)
Durationg of Hepatitis B antigen in blood for chronic infection
More than 6 months
What is a more sensitive predictor of prognosis and infectivity than HBeAg
Hepatitis B viral DNA
Controlling Hepatitis B
Minimise exposure, safe sex, needle exchange, screening of pregnant women
Pre-exposure vaccination
Post exposure prophylaxis: vaccine and HBIG (hyperimmune Hep B immunoglobulin)
Hepatitis C transmission
Same as hepatitis B, Sex - Multiple sexual parteners Bloods - PWID Mother to child - Infected mother Born in areas of high prevalence
What defines chronic infection
6 months or longer