Hepatitis E is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis E virus, causing acute or chronic hepatitis and generally does not cause symptoms, especially in children, however, it can cause symptoms such as low fever, loss of appetite, nausea or abdominal pain.
The hepatitis E virus, also known as HEV, can enter the body through contact with or consumption of contaminated water and food. This disease is self-limited and short-lived, and is normally fought by the body itself. However, in people with weakened immune systems, hepatitis E can become chronic.
The treatment of hepatitis E is carried out by a hepatologist, general practitioner or pediatrician, and there is no specific treatment, it is only recommended to rest and drink plenty of fluids, in addition to trying to ensure better sanitation and hygiene conditions, especially with regard to preparation. of food.
Symptoms of hepatitis E
The main symptoms of hepatitis E are:
- Low fever;
- Excessive tiredness;
- Loss of appetite;
- Abdominal or joint pain;
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea;
- Itching on the body;
- Yellow skin and eyes;
- Dark urine and light stools;
- General malaise.
Typically, hepatitis E is asymptomatic, especially in children, however, it can cause mild symptoms lasting about 1 to 6 weeks. In pregnant women or people with a weakened immune system, symptoms can be more severe and cause complications.
The symptoms of hepatitis E usually appear between 15 and 40 days after contact with the virus, being very similar to other types of hepatitis. Check out the main types of hepatitis and symptoms.
That is why it is important to consult a hepatologist or general practitioner, or a pediatrician in the case of children, so that the diagnosis can be made, the type of hepatitis identified and the most appropriate treatment indicated.
If you have symptoms of hepatitis E, make an appointment with a hepatologist in the nearest region:
Hepatitis E in pregnancy
Hepatitis E during pregnancy can be quite serious, especially if the woman has contact with the hepatitis E virus in the third trimester of pregnancy, as it increases the risk of fulminant liver failure and is associated with a higher mortality rate. Furthermore, it can result in premature birth. Understand what fulminant liver failure is and how it is treated.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of hepatitis E is made by a hepatologist, general practitioner or pediatrician through the assessment of symptoms, health history, travel history or living in places with poor health facilities, for example.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor must request a test for antibodies against the hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) in a blood sample, and these antibodies can be detected in the body from the beginning of the infection.
Additionally, anti-HEV antibodies can be highest about 30 to 40 days after the start of infection and remain in the body for up to 14 years.
Another test that the doctor may request is the RT-PCR, carried out with a sample of blood or feces, as it is capable of detecting the HEV virus, and thus confirming the diagnosis.
The doctor should also order tests to assess liver function, such as bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and test for other types of hepatitis, as all hepatitis has similar symptoms. See all tests that evaluate liver function.
How transmission occurs
Transmission of the hepatitis E virus occurs via the fecal-oral route, mainly through contact or consumption of water or food contaminated by urine or feces from people infected with the virus.
After ingestion, the virus is absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and enters the blood circulation, reaching the portal circulation in the liver, where it multiplies, causing acute hepatitis.
The HEV virus can also be transmitted through direct contact with infected people, but this mode of transmission is rarer.
Furthermore, it can also be transmitted by eating undercooked contaminated meat, blood transfusion with blood contaminated with the virus, or even being transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy.
The hepatitis E virus, when transmitted, has an incubation period of around 28 to 40 days, and symptoms are generally mild, self-limiting and short-lived, lasting around 1 to 6 weeks.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of hepatitis E must be carried out under the guidance of a hepatologist, general practitioner or pediatrician, and generally involves rest, good nutrition and hydration, since it is a self-limiting disease, that is, it is fought by the immune system itself, with healing occurring approximately 6 weeks after initial infection.
However, people with a weakened immune system and who develop chronic hepatitis or are co-infected with the hepatitis C or A virus may be advised to use medications such as ribavirin and peginterferon. Learn more about ribavirin.
Furthermore, if the person is using immunosuppressant medications, as in transplant recipients, medical evaluation and monitoring is recommended until the disease is resolved. If necessary, the doctor may choose to treat the symptoms presented by the person.
In the case of pregnant women or severe hepatitis, hospitalization may be recommended to monitor the infection.
During hepatitis E treatment, you should avoid drinking alcoholic beverages and taking medications that can harm the liver, such as paracetamol, for example.
Is hepatitis E curable?
Acute hepatitis E can be cured spontaneously, in people with a well-functioning immune system, due to the body creating antibodies to eliminate the virus, making it a self-limiting disease.
However, in people with a weakened immune system, such as transplant recipients who use immunosuppressants, hepatitis E can become chronic, or cause complications such as liver cirrhosis.
How to prevent
There is no vaccine for hepatitis E, as it is a disease with a benign prognosis, self-limited and rare in Brazil.
Therefore, the best way to prevent infection with the hepatitis E virus is through hygiene measures, such as washing your hands after going to the bathroom and before eating, and only using filtered water to drink, prepare or cook food. , and cook pork and venison well.
Possible complications
Hepatitis E is a self-limiting disease, however, in some people it can cause complications, such as:
- Chronic hepatitis;
- Liver cirrhosis;
- Acute liver failure;
- Cholestatic jaundice;
- Inflammatory polyradiculopathy;
- Guillain Barre syndrome;
- Inflammation of the brain;
- Loss of motor coordination.
Therefore, the treatment of hepatitis E must be guided by a doctor, in order to detect risk factors for complications and indicate the most appropriate treatment.
