According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), hepatitis E is more common than people may expect.
Recent research indicates that about 20 percent of people in the United States will have the virus at some point in their lives. It may be more common in areas with poor access to clean water.
It can spread in several ways, most commonly through poor-quality drinking water and undercooked meat.
The symptoms of hepatitis E can vary, but they may be serious in some cases. Prevention is the best tool against hepatitis E.
What are the causes?
The hepatitis E virus occurs most often when people consume food or drink that is contaminated with feces.
Hepatitis E mainly spreads through contaminated water in areas with poor water quality.
Fecal matter from humans or farm animals may contaminate the water, which may then carry the virus.
This is more common in developing countries with poor water quality and control, especially in highly populated areas. Traveling to or living in these areas may increase the risk of getting the infection in this way.
In developed countries such as the U.S., the virus tends to spread from animals to humans. Humans may eat undercooked meats, such as pork or venison, that carry the virus. Eating shellfish from tainted waters may be another risk factor.
People who are pregnant and have hepatitis E may also spread the virus to their baby. Apart from in these cases, it is uncommon for people to spread the hepatitis E infection to other people.
That said, in very rare cases, a person may get hepatitis E from a blood transfusion, according to the NIDDK.
Symptoms
The symptoms of hepatitis E can vary. Some people experience no symptoms at all or symptoms so mild that they hardly notice.
Others, however, can experience a few different symptoms, usually appearing 15–60 days after exposure to the virus.
Possible symptoms of hepatitis E include:
- tiredness and general fatigue
- poor appetite
- fever
- nausea
- vomiting
- jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
- pain in the upper abdomen, specifically over the liver
- light, clay-colored stool
- dark urine
The symptoms tend to disappear as the infection clears.
Hepatitis E does not tend to require medical treatment, and the body clears the infection without outside help.
However, doctors may recommend some tips to support the body while it is recovering from the infection.
These include:
- eating a varied, balanced diet
- drinking plenty of liquids, especially water
- resting
- avoiding things that irritate the liver, such as alcohol
Doctors may also ask about any medications that a person is taking. Some may cause damage to the liver.
Doctors might look at medications and see whether there is a way to limit or eliminate them while a person recovers from the infection. The same applies to many supplements and vitamins.
It is also important for people to see their doctor regularly as the body heals. The doctor may look for any physical changes or track treatment progression, using blood tests to determine whether the body can handle the infection.
In some cases, doctors may prescribe medications for hepatitis E. This may be more common among people who have an especially severe infection.
In rare cases, a person may require hospitalization. Such cases may include a hepatitis E infection that appears in people belonging to at-risk groups.
Prevention
Preventing hepatitis E is the best way to avoid the infection and its possible complications.
When traveling to developing countries or overcrowded areas with unclean water, be sure to only drink purified water. The easiest way to do this is to drink bottled water at all times.
The same applies to all water use in these areas. Use bottled water for everything from brushing the teeth to washing fruits and vegetables and making food.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that boiling or chlorinating water will inactivate the virus.
Anyone with concerns about contracting the virus may also want to avoid raw meats such as pork and wild game such as deer.
As the CDC point out, there is no vaccine with federal approval in the U.S. However, China approved a vaccine for use in that country in 2012.
Preventing the spread of the virus is also important. While it is uncommon to spread the virus among people, anyone with the virus should take care to follow hygiene tips. These include washing the hands with warm water after using the restroom and before making food, for example.
Outlook
It is usually simple to manage hepatitis E. The symptoms of the virus may be uncomfortable, but the body tends to clear out the virus in 4–6 weeks with little outside help.
Rare complications are possible, and potentially fatal, which is why it is crucial to visit the doctor regularly during the time the infection is present.
There are few deaths from the virus. The CDC estimate that during outbreaks of hepatitis E, the mortality rate is about 1 percent.
However, pregnant people and those with suppressed immune systems have a higher risk of experiencing serious complications.
Anyone who suspects that they have hepatitis E should see their doctor for a full diagnosis and guidelines about proper treatment.
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