Viral Hepatitis Flashcards
Hepatitis A transmission
Faecal-oral spread
Importance has declined in the UK
Some cases are imported and there are some clusters (gay men and people who inject drugs)
Hepatitis A clinical picture
Acute hepatitis, no chronic infection
Peak incidence in older children and young adults
Hep A laboratory confirmation
Clotted blood for serology
Hep A IgM
Heptatis E transmission
Faecal-oral route
In the tropics, or exposure to pigs (who are chronically infected)
Hepatitis E clinical picture
Acute hepatitis, no chronic infection
Peak incidence in older children and young adults
Some immunocompromised humans get chronic infection
Hepatitis D
Only found with Hep B and makes Hep B worse
Rare in Scotland
Hepatitis B transmission
Sex
Mother to child
Blood
Hepatitis B clinical picture
Chronic infection is more likely to result if first exposure in childhood
Spontaneous cure can occur
Hepatitis B laboratory confirmation
Hep B surface antigen (more than 6 months in chronic infection)
Hep B e antigen usually also present in highly infectious individuals
Hep B DNA always present in high titre in highly infectious individuals
Hep B IgM most likely to be present in recently infected cases
Hepatitis C transmission
Sex
Mother to child
Blood
Hepatitis C clinical picture
Infection results in chronic infection in about 75% of cases
Spontaneous cure is not seen
Management of acute viral hepatitis
Symptomatic
Monitor for encephalopathy or resolution
Management of chronic hepatitis
Antivirals
Vaccination
Hepatocellular carcinoma screening
