Hepatitis E is a viral infection caused by one type of the hepatitis virus. Like the other types of viral hepatitis, hepatitis E causes swelling and inflammation of your liver. It tends to be similar to hepatitis A because it’s not a chronic disease — it eventually leaves your system. While there’s no vaccine to help prevent hepatitis E transmission (like there is for hepatitis A), there are ways to minimize your risk.
Prevalence of Hepatitis E
First identified in 1980 as a distinct entity, hepatitis E disproportionately affects certain areas of the globe: Southeast and Central Asia, North and West Africa, and Mexico. Hepatitis E is most commonly found in those ages 15 to 40; young children may get it, too, but don’t usually develop symptoms.
Transmission of Hepatitis E
Hepatitis E infection occurs after ingesting food or water that has been contaminated with feces infected with the virus. For example, a person may unknowingly drink contaminated tap water when traveling in an area with poor sanitation. Natural disasters can also contribute to the spread of hepatitis E. Monsoons and flood waters can cause sewers to overflow and mix with drinking water, leading to contamination. People may also be at risk of contracting hepatitis E from animals — cows, pigs, rodents, sheep, and others can harbor the infection. As for whether hepatitis E can be spread through sexual contact, the answer remains unclear: The World Health Organization (WHO) states it can’t, while the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) state that it can. Further research is needed to clarify this issue.
Prevention of Hepatitis E
A hepatitis E vaccine is now in development. Whether or not it will protect against all genotypes of hepatitis E is still being studied. In the meantime, you can protect yourself and help prevent the spread of hepatitis E by following some common-sense guidelines:
Always wash your hands before eating and after using the bathroom.If you travel, remember that the water could be contaminated. Avoid tap water and ice, as well as raw fruits and vegetables that may have been washed in contaminated water.Keep in mind that undercooked shellfish has also been linked to hepatitis E outbreaks. When traveling to areas where hepatitis E occurs commonly, avoid raw and undercooked foods.
Hepatitis E Symptoms
The hepatitis E virus typically incubates for 40 days. Some people can fight it off within just two weeks, while others may take up to two months to clear the infection. Hepatitis E symptoms can range from virtually undetectable to quite severe. Noticeable symptoms include:
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes)Dark urine and light-colored stoolsTenderness and pain in the liverPain in the abdomenNauseaFever
Hepatitis E does not become chronic like hepatitis B, C, and D, so once the body fights the infection, it’s gone.
Treatment for Hepatitis E
Hepatitis E is a virus, like the flu, so antibiotics have no effect. But hepatitis E is self-limiting, meaning that the virus dies on its own after a period of time. Any specific symptoms that cause discomfort can be treated. Dehydration can be treated with intravenous or oral fluids.
Prognosis for Hepatitis E
Compared to other forms of viral hepatitis, hepatitis E is more likely to develop into fulminant (suddenly severe) hepatitis, but the mortality rates are still low — less than 4 percent. Pregnant women have the highest risk of developing fulminant hepatitis, and the complications can be severe; miscarriage is common, and the mortality rate for women in the third trimester of pregnancy is as high as 20 percent. Being careful about what you eat and drink, especially while traveling, and practicing good hygiene wherever you are will go a long way toward helping you prevent hepatitis E.
