Viral Hepatitis Flashcards
What is hepatitis?
Inflammation of the liver
Viral hepatitis = inflammation of the liver as a result of direct viral infection
Define acute hepatitis
Hepatitis within last 6 months
Define chronic hepatitis
Any hepatitis lasting for longer than 6 months
Possible symptoms of acute hepatitis
General malaise
Myalgia
GI upset
Abdominal pain (particularly in the right upper quadrant)
With/without cholestatic jaundice (pale stools, dark urine)
Tender hepatomegaly
Infective causes of acute hepatitis
Viral - Hepatitis A and E
-Herpes viruses e.g. EBV (Epstein Barr Virus), CMV (Cytomegalovirus), VZV (Varicella Zoster Virus)
Non-viral - Leptospirosis
- Toxoplasmosis
- Coxiella (Q fever)
*Non-Infective causes of acute hepatitis
Alcohol Drugs Toxins/poisoning Pregnancy Autoimmune Hereditary metabolic
Signs of Chronic liver disease
Clubbing
Palmar erythema
Dupuytren’s contracture (one or more fingers bending into palm of hand)
Spider naevi
Infective causes of chronic liver disease
Hepatitis B (+/- D) Hepatitis C
Non-infective causes of chronic liver disease
Alcohol
Drugs
Autoimmune
Hereditary metabolic
Describe genetic appearance of Hepatitis A
Small, undeveloped RNA virus
Clinical presentation of Hepatitis A
Incubation period of 28 days.
Nausea, anorexia and distaste for cigarettes.
After 2 weeks, jaundice, with dark urine and pale stool.
Sometimes hepatomegaly
Pathophysiology of Hepatitis A
Picornavirus
Viral replication occurs in infected hepatocytes
>Destruction of hepatocytes due to immune response and viral life cycle
>Hepatitis
>Hepatic symptoms
Virus particles shed through biliary tree into faeces. Most infectious just before jaundice
How is Hepatitis A spread?
Faecal-oral route
Associated with shellfish
Epidemiology of Hepatitis A
Most common viral hepatitis in the UK
Diagnosis of Hepatitis A
Blood = ALT rises (Alanine transaminase) IgM = Antibody to HAV
Treatment of Hepatitis A
Prevention by vaccine
Treatment includes treating symptoms and avoiding alcohol
Complications of Hep A
Cholestatic hepatitis
Rarely, liver failure and death
Clinical presentation of Hep B (also D)
Flu like symptoms
Fever
Jaundice in 10% of younger and 50% of adults