FAQ about hepatitis E virus

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by MSc Vu Tan Phuc - Gastroenterologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine, Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital. The doctor has nearly 10 years of experience in the field of gastroenterology with strengths in diagnostic and therapeutic Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
According to a report from the World Health Organization, each year about 20 million people will be infected with hepatitis E virus, of which 56,000 cases of patients will die from diseases related to this virus. This is one of many viruses that lead to hepatitis and can cause serious damage to the liver's function.

1. What is Hepatitis E?

Hepatitis E is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV). This disease is rare in developed countries, but is common in developing countries. Most cases of acute HEV infection. However, acute infection can become chronic, but very rarely.

2. Where is hepatitis E most common?

Hepatitis E is most common in developing countries with inadequate access to clean water and poor sanitation. Hepatitis E epidemics with large numbers of infected people have been detected in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Central America. People living in refugee camps and migrants are at particularly high risk.

3. What are the different genotypes of hepatitis E and where can they be found?

HEV has a different epidemiology depending on the site of infection. This can be largely attributed to viral genotypes circulating in different regions of the world. Four genotypes of HEV cause disease in humans, each presenting different epidemiological and clinical features in developing countries.
Hepatitis E cases typically present in one of two ways: either as large and sporadic outbreaks in areas where HEV is endemic (genotype 1 in Asia and Africa, genotype 2 in Mexico). and west Africa, and genotype 4 in Taiwan and China) or as isolated cases in developed countries such as the United States (genotype 3). Recently, a novel genotype (genotype 7) was identified in a liver transplant recipient from the UAE with chronic hepatitis E virus infection who regularly ate camel meat and milk.

4. How is the hepatitis E virus spread?

HEV is usually spread by the fecal-oral route. In developing countries where HEV genotypes 1 and 2 predominate, the most common source of HEV infection is contaminated drinking water. In developed countries, isolated cases of HEV genotype 3 have occurred after eating undercooked pork or venison.
HEV genotype 4 detected in China, Taiwan and Japan is also associated with food transmission.

5. Can animals transmit hepatitis E virus to humans?

The answer is yes. Hepatitis E can be transmitted to humans from certain mammals by consuming undercooked meat, offal or infected animals.

6. Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of hepatitis E are similar to other types of acute viral hepatitis and cause liver damage, such as:
Fever Fatigue Loss of appetite Nausea and vomiting Abdominal pain Yellowing of the skin Dark urine Colored stools joint pain clay.

7. Who is most susceptible to HEV infection?

Many people with hepatitis E do not have symptoms of an acute infection. In developing countries, hepatitis E is more common in adolescents and young adults. Pregnant women are more likely to experience fulminant and fatal hepatitis.

8. How long can a person with HEV remain contagious?

The specific duration of HEV infection has not been established, but fecal excretion of virus has been demonstrated from 1 week prior to disease onset and approximately 30 days after jaundice.

9. How serious is hepatitis E?

Most people with hepatitis E make a full recovery. However, for pregnant women, hepatitis E can be a serious illness. Mortality rates reach 10% - 30% in pregnant women in the third trimester.
Hepatitis E can also pose serious health threats to people with chronic liver disease and immunosuppressive therapy organ transplant recipients, leading to decompensated liver disease and even death .

10. Can hepatitis E become chronic?

To date, there are no reports of the progression of hepatitis E from acute to chronic hepatitis E. However, an increase in the number of hepatitis 3 type 3 infections acquired in developed countries is developing chronic hepatitis.

12. Who should be tested for hepatitis E?

Hepatitis E testing should be done in any person with symptoms of viral hepatitis, testing negative for serological markers of hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or other liver viruses.
Anyone who has traveled to a hepatitis E epidemic or affected area should also be tested.

13. How is hepatitis E treated?

Hepatitis E usually goes away on its own without treatment. There is no specific antiviral therapy for acute hepatitis E.
Patients are generally advised to rest, get adequate nutrition, and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid alcohol Consult your doctor before taking any medicine that can harm the liver, especially acetaminophen. Pregnant women with hepatitis E need to be hospitalized for monitoring.

14. How is hepatitis E prevented?

Prevention of hepatitis E is mainly based on good hygiene and the use of clean water.
Travelers to developing countries can reduce their risk of infection by not drinking unfiltered water. Avoiding raw pork and venison may reduce the risk of transmission of the HEV 3 gene. Immunoglobulins are not effective in preventing hepatitis E.

15. Is there a hepatitis E vaccine?

There is currently no FDA-approved vaccine for hepatitis E. However, in 2012, a recombinant vaccine was approved for use in China.
Due to the problem of alcohol abuse, eating toxic foods, the incidence of hepatobiliary disease in Vietnam is increasing, especially hepatitis D. To meet the demand for examination and treatment of diseases Liver - Bile - Pancreas management, Vinmec International General Hospital has launched standard liver - bile screening packages, comprehensive liver - biliary screening packages and advanced liver - bile screening packages to help assess liver function. hepatobiliary through testing, subclinical; the risk of affecting the liver and early screening for hepatobiliary cancer.

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Source: cdc.gov