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(Created page with "Hepatitis E virus is a herpevirus and an RNA virus. There are four genotypes. Types 1 and 2 are mostly found in the tropics and subtropics and cannot cause chronic hepatitis. They only infect humans. Types 3 and 4 are found in animal reservoirs and can cause chronic hepatitis. These types are mostly present in Western countries. == Etiology == Like hepatitis A, transmission is faecal-oral. Transmission of types 1 and 2 usually occurs due to: * Contaminated food or w...") |
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Hepatitis E virus is a herpevirus and an RNA virus. | '''Hepatitis E virus''' is a herpevirus and an RNA virus. It causes acute [[viral hepatitis]]. | ||
There are four genotypes. Types 1 and 2 are mostly found in the tropics and subtropics and cannot cause chronic hepatitis. They only infect humans. | There are four genotypes. Types 1 and 2 are mostly found in the tropics and subtropics and cannot cause chronic hepatitis. They only infect humans. | ||
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* Contaminated food or water | * Contaminated food or water | ||
* Close personal contact | * Close personal contact | ||
* IV drug users | * [[IV drug use|IV drug users]] | ||
* Blood exposure (rare) | * Blood exposure (rare) | ||
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HEV causes self-limited acute hepatitis. The clinical features of HEV are similar to those of HAV, with one important exception. Subtypes 1 and 2 infection has a high mortality rate in pregnant women, around 25%. | HEV causes self-limited acute hepatitis. The clinical features of HEV are similar to those of HAV, with one important exception. Subtypes 1 and 2 infection has a high mortality rate in pregnant women, around 25%. | ||
Subtypes 3 and 4 can progress to chronic hepatitis, whereas subtypes 1 and 2 can’t. Subtype 3 has special extrahepatic manifestations, including neurological problems (neuralgic amyotrophy and GBS), glomerulonephritis, and pancreatitis. | Subtypes 3 and 4 can progress to chronic hepatitis, whereas subtypes 1 and 2 can’t. Subtype 3 has special extrahepatic manifestations, including neurological problems (neuralgic amyotrophy and [[Guillain–Barre syndrome|GBS]]), [[glomerulonephritis]], and [[Acute pancreatitis|pancreatitis]]. | ||
== Diagnosis and evaluation == | == Diagnosis and evaluation == |