OTHER NAMES
|
HEV (Hepatitis E Virus) |
ORGANISM
|
Virus: hepatitis E |
TRANSMISSION
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Hepatitis E is transmitted through eating or drinking contaminated food or water supplies, poor personal hygiene, and person to person (uncommon). |
INCUBATION
|
Fifteen to sixty days |
TYPICAL SYMPTOMS
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May have no symptoms (especially young children). Some persons have mild flu-like symptoms, dark urine, light stools, jaundice, fatigue, and fever. |
DIAGNOSIS
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Blood test. |
TREATMENT
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There is currently no treatment for hepatitis E. |
PREVENTION
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To prevent transmission of the hepatitis E virus avoid consuming potentially contaminated water or food. |
DANGER
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Mortality (death rate) of those infected with hepatitis E is 1-2% although in pregnant women it approches 20%. |
COMMENTS
|
Occurrence of hepatitis E in the U.S. is very rare and is mostly associated with U.S. residents who travel to developing countries. |
DSHS Publication Number 13-11896