THE Hepatitis ENTERS THROUGH THE MOUTH
All five variants of hepatitis, depending on the mode of infection, are divided into two groups. Hepatitis A and E transmission pathway is fecal-oral. These viruses are contained in the secretions of patients, and with poor-quality hygiene they easily infect other people. Usually they are infected through water, dirty hands or contaminated products. Both of this hеpatitis occur acutely and are almost always accompanied by jaundice.
Hеpatitis A. The disease has been known for a long time and is better studied. This variant of viral inflammation of the liver is usually lighter than hеpatitis E. It can proceed even covertly – without jaundice. Naturally, it is very easy to get infected from such patients. In addition, this infection does not become chronic.
After hеpatitis A, persistent immunity develops, and they do not get sick again. Many children in regions where this infection is commonplace are sick before the age of 5 and then do not suffer from it. There is also a vaccine against hеpatitis A, but not all are vaccinated, but in cases where there is a high risk of infection.
Hepatitis E. It is more insidious. There is no vaccine against him. The course of the infection is more severe, especially it is dangerous for pregnant women. Among them, mortality reaches 20%, in the late stages of pregnancy (the last trimester) it is even higher. Liver damage in such women is severe, with necrosis and pronounced liver failure.
If hepatitis E is infected by a person with chronic liver disease, then the infection often becomes chronic, can even lead to cirrhosis of the liver. And in the acute phase, hepatitis E sometimes proceeds seriously. Autoimmune lesions of the joints and nervous system can also join.
Hepatitis E is increasingly defined not only in the southern regions, but also in mid-latitudes, including Europe and Russia. At the same time, it can be transmitted through meat (especially through pork), sausages and other products. There are suggestions that the virus is able to live in the body of pigs. For some reason, doctors rarely show an active interest in the diagnosis of hepatitis E. Therefore, many cases of this form of hepatitis remain unrecognized. They are usually mistaken for hepatitis A.
