Condition Lookup

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Sub-Category:

Hepatitis A

Symptoms:
fatigue; nausea; vomiting; abdominal pain; jaundice; dark urine; pale stools; fever

Root Cause:
Infection with the Hepatitis A virus (HAV) causing inflammation of the liver; spread primarily through contaminated food and water.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests detecting HAV-specific IgM antibodies, liver function tests.

Treatment:
Primarily supportive care (rest, hydration, avoiding alcohol); no specific antiviral therapy.

Medications:
No antiviral medications; symptomatic relief with antipyretics (e.g., acetaminophen for fever) or antiemetics for nausea.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in areas with poor sanitation; estimated 1.4 million cases worldwide annually.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Travel to endemic regions, consuming contaminated food or water, close contact with an infected person.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Full recovery in most cases within weeks to months; no chronic infection.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Rare, but can include fulminant hepatitis in older adults or those with pre-existing liver conditions.

Hepatitis E

Specialty: Infectious Diseases

Category: Liver Infections

Sub-category: Acute Viral Hepatitis

Symptoms:
fatigue; nausea; jaundice; dark urine; pale stools; abdominal pain; fever

Root Cause:
Infection with the Hepatitis E virus (HEV), often spread through contaminated water, leading to acute liver inflammation.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests for anti-HEV antibodies (IgM), HEV RNA in serum or stool.

Treatment:
Supportive care; ribavirin in severe or chronic cases (e.g., immunocompromised patients).

Medications:
Ribavirin (antiviral, used selectively for chronic cases).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects over 20 million people annually, primarily in developing regions.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Contaminated water, poor sanitation, undercooked pork or wild game meat.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Full recovery in most cases; higher mortality in pregnant women.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Acute liver failure, particularly in pregnant women or immunocompromised individuals.