Hepatitis E is a viral disease of the liver that is caused by the hepatitis E virus. It's one of the five hepatitis viruses, with the other four being hepatitis A, B, C, and D, and unfortunately one of the least-discussed viral types of hepatitis. Unlike hepatitis B, C, and D, which are blood borne diseases, the hepatitis E virus is transmitted via contaminated food and water — similar to hepatitis A. The World Health Organization estimates that this disease affects 20 million people worldwide. Even though hepatitis E is known around the world, there are regions which are affected far more than others, and this is mainly the case in developing countries.
What should everyone know about hepatitis E — no matter where they live? How can you prevent being infected? Is there a vaccine? What are the symptoms of hepatitis E, and what is the treatment? Let's get to work on examining these and other important questions!
How is hepatitis E spread?
How can this happen? There are many different ways. For instance, drinking unsafe water that was contaminated with feces carrying the virus, can cause an infection. Or, if you're at a restaurant and the cook who prepared your food didn't wash their hands properly after going to the bathroom, you can become infected. Or if you order a drink, and the ice in the drink is made with unsafe water, you may again end up with hepatitis E. This is the reason why developing countries, and specifically countries with poor sanitation, are affected the most. In certain cultures, open defecation is widespread, and this is also a way the virus can be spread.
There are other ways of contracting the disease, too. The hepatitis E virus has four different genotypes that have so far been discovered. This means that, even though these viruses belong to the same species, there are slight differences between these types of viruses. So, hepatitis virus E genotypes 1 and 2 infect only humans. On the other hand, genotypes 3 and 4 can be found in animals as well. Eating undercooked meat from these animals (especially liver) can cause an infection. Of course, eating raw fish, or shellfish (which is popular in certain cuisines) can be a way of getting infected as well, because the virus can be found on those meals, since they're not cooked.
Other ways of transmission include an infection from an infected pregnant mother to her baby, and an infection via blood transfusion, but both of these routes of transmission happen rarely in the case of hepatitis E.
What are the symptoms of a hepatitis E infection?
A person who was infected with hepatitis E might experience some of the following warning signs and symptoms:
- Mild fever
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Skin rash
- Abdominal pain
- Joint pain
- Jaundice
- Dark urine
- Pale stool
This disease usually takes an acute form, meaning that the virus is spontaneously cleared out of the organism within a few months, even in the absence of medical intervention of any kind. However, sometimes, especially in immunosuppressed people, the disease can turn chronic.
Although a hepatitis E infection usually isn't a severe condition, in rare cases it can cause acute liver failure, which is potentially deadly. Also, this disease is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, as having hepatitis E increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, especially in the third trimester. Pregnant women are also at larger risk of developing acute liver failure than other patients.
What can we do to prevent hepatitis E?
The first thing that comes to mind, when talking about prevention, is a vaccine — and you may even have a vague memory of having received a "hepatitis shot". You are unlikely to have been vaccinated for hep E, though. There is indeed a vaccine for hepatitis E, but it's registered only in China, and isn't available anywhere else in the world.
There are other ways of staying safe and lowering the risk of getting infected with hepatitis E. Always be sure to drink, wash your hands, and prepare food with safe, clean water. If you're not sure if the water is safe, use bottled water whenever you possibly can. If you travel to a region where this disease is more common, only eat well cooked food, prepared in a clean and sanitary restaurant. And avoid having ice in your drinks, no matter how hot it is outside.
Even though treatment for hepatitis E usually isn't needed, since our immune system is able to fight the disease on its own, this condition can sometimes be life-threatening, and certainly is very unpleasant, so be sure to stay safe and seek medical attention if you believe you may have been exposed.