Hepatitis Case Study

Quatarsha Magee
October 4, 2013
HLTH 3201










After reviewing the symptoms, intake history, and lifestyle information, I have come to
the conclusion that Claudia may be suffering from hepatitis B and E. According to the National
Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, viral hepatitis symptoms are almost identical no
matter which type you obtain. Claudia complained of being fatigued and having a loss of
appetite, which is common amongst all forms of hepatitis. Hepatitis B was suspected because of
the incubation and symptom development period, which is 6 weeks to 6 months (CDC). Claudia
had her first needle stick several months ago during an injection with a patient in the hospital
where she works. The symptoms could just have appeared. She is in the neonatal ICU there,
which also increases the suspicion that she may have contracted the hepatitis B virus from one of
the infants. According to WebMD, a mother can pass the virus to her baby during delivery, so
her needle stick could have come from an infant infected with the virus. Her dark urine and
yellow skin are also signs and symptoms of the hepatitis B virus. Not all of the forms of hepatitis
cause the urine to be dark in color. Her friend, Suzanne could have also passed the virus to
Claudia. She may or may not have the virus, but transmission of the virus is common via
tattooing. According to the reading, Suzanne has tattoos on her forearms, neck, and legs. Since
they are friends, they could share personal items, like razors, toothbrushes, or other items, which
could have transmitted the virus to Claudia (WebMD). Claudia is also a traveler, which is
another way that she could have gotten the virus. According to the CDC, developing countries,
including Thailand where she recently traveled, have a high risk of transmission of the hepatitis
B virus. Although there is a vaccine for the virus, it is not noted that Claudia actually received
the vaccine. It is noted that she received the hepatitis A series of vaccination and is current on it.
The hepatitis E virus is not as common as hepatitis B, but outbreaks have happened in the
US and also Britain and Scotland. Claudia has traveled to both places recently. Hepatitis E is
commonly spread in contaminated drinking water and uncooked/undercooked food items. There
is no vaccine for the virus, so it is difficult to prevent if you frequently travel like Claudia does.
The symptoms of hepatitis E includes dark urine, feeling very tired, and lack of appetite, and
jaundice (yellow skin), which are all of the symptoms that Claudia is experiencing (CDC).
Claudia is 25 years old, and the symptoms occur between the ages of 15-44. Because of these
facts, it is suspected that she also carries the hepatitis E virus.

REFERENCES
"Hepatitis B." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2013.

"Hepatitis E Information for Health Professionals." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 Sept. 2012. Web. 02 Oct. 2013.

Viral hepatitis: A Through E and Beyond. National Digestive Diseases Information.
Clearinghouse.http://www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/viralhepatitis/
Grading Criteria:

Points: Content:
5 Cover page: student name, course name, due date, project title
50 State which type of hepatitis Claudia is experiencing
20 Description of this type of hepatitis and how your hepatitis choice matches content
presented in the case study
20 Support answer with rationale from textbook and other sources
5 APA format includes, but is not limited to:
1 inch margins, 10 or 12 Times New Roman font, cite references appropriately in text
(direct quote versus paraphrasing), appropriate structure of the reference page,
sentence structure, logical flow, grammar