Viral hepatitis Flashcards
What is viral hepatitis?
Inflammation of hepatocytes due to infection
What are the risk factors of viral hepatitis?
> Hep A virus from food or anal oral sex and IVDU
Hep B is an STD
Hep C is via needles and tattoos
What are the signs and symptoms of viral hepatitis?
diarrhea fatigue loss of appetite mild fever muscle or joint aches nausea slight abdominal pain vomiting weight loss jaundice
What is the epidemiology of viral hepatitis?
About 2.3 billion people of the world are infected with one or more of the hepatitis viruses. Viral hepatitis results in around 1.4 million deaths each year, HBV and HCV are responsible for about 90% of these fatalities, whilst the remaining 10% of fatalities are caused by other hepatitis viruses
What investigations would you use for viral hepatitis?
> Blood tests: These can detect whether the body is producing antibodies to fight the disease, and they can assess liver function by checking the levels of certain liver proteins and enzymes.
> Nucleic acid tests: For hepatitis B and C, an HBV DNA or HCV RNA test can confirm the speed at which the virus is reproducing in the liver, and this will show how active the disease is.
> A liver biopsy: This can measure the extent of liver damage and the possibility of cancer.
> Paracentesis: Abdominal fluid is extracted and tested, to identify the cause of fluid accumulation.
> Elastography: This measures the liver’s stiffness by emitting sound waves.
> Surrogate markers: A type of blood test to assess the development of cirrhosis and fibrosis.
What are the complications of viral hepatitis?
Acute or subacute hepatic necrosis. Chronic active hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis. Cirrhosis. Hepatic failure. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with HBV or HCV infection
What is the prognosis of viral hepatitis?
Unfortunately, not all patients with viral hepatitis recover completely. Five to 10 percent of patients with acute HBV infection and about 75% to 80% of patients with acute HCV infection develop chronic hepatitis. Patients (about 0.5% to 1%) that develop fulminant hepatitis have about an 80% fatality rate.
