VIRAL HEPATITIS

- Inflammation of the liver due to viral etiology.

- Maybe asymptomatic, acute, fulminant, or chronic.
- May also lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Viral Hepatitis Etiology and Mode of Pathogenesis Clinical manifestations Diagnosis Treatment and
Transmission Prevention
HEPATITIS A Single stranded RNA Incubates and Fever(83%) Serological testing Generally
virus, family replicates(viremia) inside Malaise -IgM anti-HAV Supportive
picornaviridae hepatocytes for 15-60 days . Anorexia
Virus is excreted into the bile Nausea Washing of hands
Oro- fecal route and into the intestine. Vomiting(80%) before handling
-Virus is shed into stools of Abdominal pain(43%) food and
Sexual route( oro-anal infected persons. Dark urine beverages
sexual contact) -Infectivity occurs before onset Jaundice(96%)
of symptoms and declines after -Self limiting condition Anti HAV
jaundice appears. vaccination

HEPATITIS B -Hepadnaviridae Cytotoxic Lymphocytes Asymptomatic/Carrier Serological testing Supportive

recognize the HBV infected state HBsAg-acute and treatment
Sexual intercourse hepatocytes that leads to chronic infection
Blood transfusion hepatocyte destruction. Anti *Actue Hepatitis HBV DNA and HBeAg- Administration of
Usage of contaminated HBc IgM is produced -Anorexia Assess viral replication Vit. K if PT is > 3
needles Incubation of 2 months from -fatigue and infectivity secs
Vertical transmission the time of ecposure, HBV DNA -vomiting Liver biopsy- shows Interferon –
appears followed by HBsAg and -abdominal pain HBcAg alpha( 5-10 MU/
HBeAg -Jaundice and dark urine M2 three times
* Chronic Hepatitis Anti HBcAg- window per week for 6
>Immune- tolerant period mons)
 phase- active viral Anti HBsAg- marker Lamivudine
replication in the liver for immunity (3mg/kg/day for
but little or no evidence AST/ALT- increase atleast 12 mons)
of disease activity serum levels
> immune- active Prothrombin time Hepatitis B
phase-acute viral vaccine
replication with signs of
inflammation Immunoglobulin
>inactive carrier phase for newborns

*Liver Cirrhosis and Screening of

Hepatocellular blood products
Carcinoma
Use of condoms
and prompt
prophylaxis

HEPATITIS C - SS RNA virus of Chronic evolution is due to an *Asymptomatic Serological testing Supportive
family unsuccessful cellular, humoral, *Acute Hepatitis - Anti HCV treatment
Flaviviridae and cytokine immune response, -Jaundice detection in
-Blood transfusions which results in an attack on the -Fever serum Administration of
- Exposure to infected hepatocytes. -Diarrhea - HCV RNA Interferon-alpha
contaminated body An imbalance in T- Helper cells -Loss of appetite determination
fluids type 1and Type 2 cytokines -Pruritus - Ribavirin
-Vertical Transmission * Chronic Hepatitis
* Liver cirrhosis Careful handling
of contaminated
specimens

Screening of
blood products

Avoidance of
used needles