What is the prognosis of Hepatitis E?
Hepatitis is a viral infection of liver. Hepatitis may be caused by virus types including A, B, C, D and E. Hepatitis A and E are spread by oro-fecal route. Hepatitis E reservoir is animals includes pigs. They are seen mostly in developing countries. Presentation of the disease is similar to hepatitis A. Patient has fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice and dark urine. It can progress to chronic hepatitis. It mainly occurs in immunocompromised people like organ transplant candidates. Hepatitis E is diagnosed by presence of serum HEV antibodies. Prognosis of the disease is good. It is a self- limiting infection. Mortality rate with hepatitis E is 2 % only. But in pregnant females the rate is 20% mainly in 3rd trimester.