DISEASE SCANNER

Global Incurable Diseases Tracker

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Hepatologic Disease

Hepatitis E

MODERATE

A liver disease caused by hepatitis E virus, transmitted primarily through contaminated water. Similar to hepatitis A in transmission and course. Most common in South Asia and East Asia. Genotypes 1 and 2 cause large waterborne outbreaks; genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotic. High mortality in pregnant women (15-25%).

Global Affected

20.0M

Countries

111

Symptoms

Jaundice
Fatigue
Nausea/vomiting
Abdominal pain
Loss of appetite
Fever
Dark urine
Clay-colored stool
Enlarged liver

Treatment Options

Supportive care
Ribavirin (chronic cases)
Reduced immunosuppression
Rest
Adequate nutrition
Avoid alcohol

Risk Factors

1Travel to endemic areas
2Contaminated water
3Consumption of undercooked pork/deer
4Pregnancy (severity)
5Solid organ transplant
6HIV infection
7Advanced age

Diagnostic Methods

  • 1HEV IgM antibody (acute infection)
  • 2HEV IgG antibody (past infection)
  • 3HEV RNA PCR
  • 4Liver function tests
  • 5Exclusion of other hepatitis viruses

Prognosis

Generally self-limited with recovery in weeks to months. Case fatality 0.5-4% (higher in pregnancy 15-25%, chronic liver disease). Chronic infection can develop in immunosuppressed. No carrier state in immunocompetent. Lifelong immunity after infection.

Prevention

  • Safe drinking water
  • Proper sanitation
  • Hand washing
  • Avoid undercooked pork/deer
  • Vaccine (China only)
  • Blood screening

Research Status

Vaccine (Hecolin) licensed in China but not widely available. Treatment is supportive. Ribavirin used in chronic HEV (immunosuppressed patients). Reduced immunosuppression in transplant patients. Safe water and sanitation are primary prevention. Pregnant women require special management.

Affected Countries

United StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAustraliaGermanyFranceItalySpainJapanChinaIndiaBrazilRussiaSwedenNetherlandsBelgiumSwitzerlandAustriaDenmarkNorwayFinlandPolandCzech RepublicHungaryRomaniaBulgariaCroatiaSloveniaSlovakiaLTLVEEIrelandPortugalGreeceCYMTLUIcelandNew ZealandSouth KoreaSingaporeTaiwanHong KongMalaysiaThailandVietnamIndonesiaPhilippinesSouth AfricaNigeriaEgyptTurkeyIranSaudi ArabiaUAEQatarKuwaitOmanJordanLebanonSyriaYemenIraqAfghanistanPakistanBangladeshLKNPMMKHLAMNKazakhstanUzbekistanTMKGTJAzerbaijanAMGEUkraineBelarusMDALBAMEMKSerbiaXKMexicoArgentinaChileColombiaPeruVenezuelaEcuadorUYPYBOCRPAGuatemalaHNSVNIBZJMHaitiDominican RepublicCuba

Sources

  • https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hev/index.htm
  • https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-e
  • https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/viral-hepatitis/hepatitis-e

Medical Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult healthcare professionals for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.