Hepatitis E Topics

• epidemic hepatitis
• new delhi india
• sanitation conditions
• fecal contamination
• contamination of water
• poor sanitation
• heavy rainfalls
• food person
• mortality rates
• mortality rate
• liver disease
• sporadic cases
• monsoons
• third trimester
• animal species
• industrialized countries
• water supplies
• southeast asia
• central africa

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Hepatitis E, Hepatitis E

Genotypes 1 and 2 are restricted to humans and often associated with large outbreaks and epidemics in developing countries with poor sanitation conditions. Genotypes 3 and 4 infect humans, pigs and other animal species and have been responsible for sporadic cases of hepatitis E in both developing and industrialized countries.

Though children often contract this infection as well, they less frequently become symptomatic. Mortality rates are generally low, for Hepatitis E is a self-limiting disease, in that it usually goes away by itself and the patient recovers. However, during the duration of the infection (usually several weeks), the disease severely impairs a persons ability to work, care for family members, and obtain food. Hepatitis E occasionally develops into an acute severe liver disease, and is fatal in about 2% of all cases. Clinically, it is comparable to hepatitis A, but in pregnant women the disease is more often severe and is associated with a clinical syndrome called fulminant hepatic failure. Pregnant women, especially those in the third trimester, suffer an elevated mortality rate from the disease ~20%.

It is widespread in Southeast Asia, northern and central Africa, India, and Central America. It is spread mainly through fecal contamination of water supplies or food; person-to-person transmission is uncommon. Outbreaks of epidemic Hepatitis E most commonly occur after heavy rainfalls and monsoons because of their disruption of water supplies. Major outbreaks have occurred in New Delhi, India (30,000 cases in 1955-1956), Burma (20,000 cases in 1976-1977), Kashmir, India (52,000 cases in 1978), Kanpur, India (79,000 cases in 1991), and China (100,000 cases between 1986 and 1988).

There was an outbreak in Chad in which, as of September 27 there were 1,442 reported cases and 46 deaths. In Sudan, which has been troubled with conflict recently (see, Darfur conflict), they are also suffering from a severe Hepatitis E epidemic. As of September 28, there were 6,861 cases and 87 deaths, mainly in the West Darfur Region. UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, and other international health organizations are currently working to increase the availability of soap, dig new wells, and chlorinate water supplies and reserves. However, the existing resources are still not enough, and more personnel and funds are severely needed in the region to assure the health and welfare of the people. Increasingly, hepatitis E is being seen in developed nations with reports of cases in the UK, US and Japan. The disease is thought to be a zoonosis in that animals are thought to be the source. Both deer and pigs have been implicated.

Source: Wikipedia > Hepatitis E