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What Is Hepatitis E?

Hepatitis E is one of five viruses that have a tendency to infect the liver and cause acute viral hepatitis. As a disease, it is very similar to hepatitis A. Here are six important facts about hepatitis E. It is usually “self-limited.” Self-limited means that a disease usually requires no medical treatment and will eventually be healed by the body’s immune system. Doctors might offer supportive treatment such as medicines to control nausea or IV fluids to help with dehydration, but nothing specific to hepatitis E is needed. Pathophysiology and Etiology

The HEV genome contains 3 open reading frames (ORFs). The largest, ORF-1, codes for the nonstructural proteins responsible for viral replication. ORF-2 contains genes encoding the capsid. The function of ORF-3 is unknown, but the antibodies directed against ORF-3 epitopes have been identified.

Hepatitis E results from HEV infection and is spread by fecally contaminated water within endemic areas. HEV is an RNA virus of the genus Hepevirus. It was discovered during electron microscopy of feces contaminated with enteric non-A, non-B hepatitis. The virus is icosahedral and nonenveloped. It has a diameter of approximately 34 nanometers, and it contains a single strand of RNA approximately 7.5 kilobases in length. Four HEV genotypes exist, and genotype 1 causes human disease

Specific Hepatitis E Symptoms

If symptoms of hepatitis E do occur, they usually appear abruptly. These symptoms (especially early ones) may be similar to the stomach flu and can include:

Fatigue Excessive tiredness A lack of appetite Nausea Diarrhea A low-grade fever Muscle pain Joint pain A sore throat Dark urine Pale-colored stool Stomach pain (or abdominal pain) on the right side.

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes) usually occurs several days (up to two weeks) after these early hepatitis E symptoms. When jaundice appears, the early symptoms tend to improve — although weight loss may continue.

Specific Hepatitis E Treatment Suggestions Following are some key steps to take as part of hepatitis E treatment:

Get enough calories. Many people with hepatitis E get nauseated, especially late in the day. In order to get enough calories, try eating the majority of your calories early in the day. Eating several small meals throughout the day (instead of three large meals) may also be helpful. If you feel sick in the morning, try eating some crackers or dry toast before getting out of bed. It may also help to drink lemon water or have a lemon drop. Get plenty of rest. It’s important to get as much rest as you can while your body fights off the virus. Drink plenty of fluids. You should try to drink at least 10 to 16 glasses a day of water, clear juices, or other drinks that do not have caffeine in them. Avoid medicines that can harm the liver. Talk with your healthcare provider about all of medicines that you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol poisons your liver and can cause even more damage to the cells that are already fighting the hepatitis E virus. The exact amount of alcohol that will harm the liver isn’t known. Therefore, it’s generally recommended that people with hepatitis E avoid alcohol completely. Exercise regularly. Do light-to-moderate exercise, such as walking, for 30 minutes a day.

Once a person has recovered from a hepatitis E infection, the virus is no longer present in the body. hepatitis e Hepatitis E,What Is Hepatitis E? Prevention of Hepatitis E Hepatitis E is an infection caused by the hepatitis E virus. It is most commonly spread by eating or drinking something (or putting something in your mouth, such as a utensil) that has been contaminated with the stool of a person infected with hepatitis E. There is currently no approved hepatitis E vaccine (although several vaccines are currently being tested). Therefore, the best way to prevent hepatitis E is to practice good personal hygiene and avoid high-risk situations. This means avoiding tap water when traveling internationally and practicing good hygiene and sanitation. Some other tips for effective prevention of hepatitis E include:

Boiling water or drinking bottled water in areas where there is a risk of hepatitis E contamination. Also, do not use ice cubes or wash fruits and vegetables in tap water.

Eating cooked foods and fruits that you can peel, and avoiding vegetables or fruits that could have been washed with contaminated water, such as lettuce.

Avoiding raw or steamed shellfish, such as oysters, that live in contaminated waters