Hepatitis E (patient information)

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Hepatitis E is a viral hepatitis (liver inflammation) caused by infection with a virus called hepatitis E virus (HEV)

Symptoms

The incidence of hepatitis E is highest in adults between the ages of 15 and 40. Though children often contract this infection as well, they less frequently become symptomatic. Mortality rates are generally low, for Hepatitis E is a “self-limiting” disease, in that it usually goes away by itself and the patient recovers. However, during the duration of the infection (usually several weeks), the disease severely impairs a person’s ability to work, care for family members, and obtain food. Hepatitis E occasionally develops into an acute severe liver disease, and is fatal in about 2% of all cases. Clinically, it is comparable to hepatitis A, but in pregnant women the disease is more often severe and is associated with a clinical syndrome called as 'fulminant hepatic failure'. Pregnant women, especially those in the third trimester, suffer an elevated mortality rate from the disease ~20%.

• Prolonged cholestasis has been described in up to 60 percent of patients.
• Jaundice
• Malaise
• Anorexia
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• Hepatomegaly
• Other less common features include diarrhea, arthralgia, pruritus, and urticarial rash. Some patients have asymptomatic infection.

Exams and tests

The following tests are done to identify and monitor liver damage from hepatitis B:

• Albumin level
• Liver function tests
• Prothrombin time
• Antibody test

Treatment

Hepatitis E usually resolves on its own over several weeks to months.

Possible Complications

Chronic hepatitis, Liver failure

Outlook (Prognosis)

Prognosis mostly is good with only few patients developing chronic hepatitis

Prevention

Improving sanitation is the most important measure, which consists in proper treatment and disposal of human waste, higher standards for public water supplies, improved personal hygiene procedures and sanitary food preparation. Thus, prevention strategies of this disease are similar to those of many others that plague developing nations, and they require large-scale international financing of water supply and water treatment projects. A vaccine based on recombinant viral proteins has been developed

Diseases with similar symptoms

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis D
• Hepatitis E

Sources

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/viralhepatitis/#hepe