Acute hepatitisB17.8

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

Synonym(s)

Acute viral hepatitis; hepatitis epidemica; Hepatitis infectious

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Virus-induced acute diffuse inflammation of the liver.

ClassificationThis section has been translated automatically.

Infectious hepatitis (hepatitis epidemica)
Serum hepatitis (transfusion hepatitis, syringe hepatitis).

Clinical featuresThis section has been translated automatically.

Hepatitis A: incubation period 6-50 days (average 32 days).
Hepatitis B: Incubation period up to 160 days.
- Pre-Icteric prodromal stage: duration 2-9 days. Rare skin lesions such as urticarial or maculopapular exanthema.
- Icteric phase: duration 2-6 weeks. Skin lesions:
Hepatitis C: Possible occurrence of vasculitis.

TherapyThis section has been translated automatically.

Bed rest, diet, avoidance of hepatotoxic drugs and alcohol; in the case of fulminant progressions with liver failure, intensive care measures.

Progression/forecastThis section has been translated automatically.

Depending on the type in up to 10% transition to chronic hepatitis.
S.a.u. persistent hepatitis; recurrent hepatitis; necrotising hepatitis.
Homologous (not heterologous) immunity between infectious hepatitis and serum hepatitis.

TablesThis section has been translated automatically.

Virus	Abbreviation/Synonym	Genetic information	Family	Occurrence/Epidemiology	Transmission	History
hepatitis A	HAV	RNA	Picornaviruses	depending on age, antibodies are detectable in 5-70% of the population	fecal-oral	acute
hepatitis B	HBV	DNA	Hepadnaviruses	approx. 50,000 new infections per year	Blood, sexual, perinatal	acute, fulminant, chronic (in 1-10% of cases)
hepatitis B	HBV	DNA	Hepadnaviruses	Antibodies detectable in 5-20% of the population (vaccination, past illness)	Blood, sexual, perinatal	acute, fulminant, chronic (in 1-10% of cases)
hepatitis C	HCV	RNA	Flaviviruses	5-10,000 new infections per year (higher number of unreported cases); 200,000-350,000 infected persons nationwide	Blood, sexual, perinatal	acute, fulminant, chronic (in approx. 10-20% of cases)
hepatitis D	HDV	RNA	HBV-Satellite	very rare; superinfection with HBV infection often causes severe chronic courses (> 70%) with high lethality	Blood, sexual, perinatal	acute, fulminant, chronic
hepatitis E	HEV	RNA	Caliciviruses	Endemic in India, former CIS states, West Africa. In tropical and subtropical countries HEV is responsible for more than 50% of acute cases.	fecal-oral	acute, fulminant (especially for pregnant women)
hepatitis G	HGV	RNA	Flaviviruses	Coinfection in 80% of all injecting drug users infected with hepatitis C; antibodies are detectable in about 1% of the population worldwide	Blood, sexual	asymptomatic

Authors

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer