Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E virus (HEV), the major etiologic agent of enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis worldwide.

Manifestation: The incubation period following exposure to HEV ranges from 15 to 60 days (mean, 40 days). Typical clinical signs and symptoms of acute hepatitis E are similar to those of other types of viral hepatitis and include:

• Abdominal pain
• Anorexia
• Dark urine
• Fever
• Hepatomegaly
• Jaundice
• Malaise
• Nausea
• Vomiting.
• Other less common symptoms include arthralgia, diarrhoea, pruritus, and urticarial rash. The period of infectivity following acute infection has not been determined but virus excretion in stools has been demonstrated up to 14 days after illness onset.

No evidence of chronic infection has been detected in long-term follow-up of patients with hepatitis E

Diagnose and treatment: Blood test demonstrates the infection. Therapy is not available, but there recovery is spontaneously. Vaccine is not available.

Prevent hepatitis E by:

• Avoid drinking contaminated water
• Avoid eating contaminated food.