Hepatitis E
Einstein Health Glossary
ICD 10 - B17.2
What is hepatitis E?
Caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV), hepatitis E causes liver inflammation and is of greater concern in pregnant women and people with some type of immunodeficiency. In general, hepatitis E is self-limiting and has a short duration.
Symptoms
Children with hepatitis E rarely show symptoms. In young people and adults, when symptoms occur, they are similar to those of other types of hepatitis, such as fatigue, fever, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, yellowish skin and eyes, and dark urine.
Causes
The infection is fecal-oral, as in hepatitis A. That is, it occurs when the feces of an infected person come into contact with another person's mouth, mainly through the consumption of water and food of unknown origin, due to basic sanitation issues and during sex.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of hepatitis E is made through blood and stool tests.
Prevention Method
Keeping hands sanitized, cleaning raw foods, consuming drinks and foods from known sources, and using condoms during oral sex are some of the precautions to avoid hepatitis E.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis E. The doctor may prescribe medications to relieve symptoms until the disease goes away on its own, as well as deal with any complications.
Duration
Hepatitis E lasts from two to six weeks until the body eliminates the causative virus.
Is it contagious?
Hepatitis E is contagious via the fecal-oral route.
Can it be contracted more than once?
Hepatitis E can be contracted more than once.