Hepatitis
There are 5 types of hepatitis:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis D
Hepatitis E
Note: 90% of acute viral hepatitis is caused by Hepatitis A, B and C
The other 10% is made up of the following causes:
- Hepatitis D and E
- Yellow fever
- Herpes
o Herpes Simplex Virus
o Varicella Zoster
o Cytomegalo virus (CMV)
o Ebbstein Barr Virus (EBV)
- GB virus C
- TTV
, Hepatitis B:
- Aka serum Hepatitis
- Circular DNA genome
- ¾ is double stranded (i.e. it is incompletely d/s)
- Dane particle is the intact infectious particle of
the Hepatitis B virus
- Contains other components as well:
o Envelope
o Excess coat protein
- HBV has 3 Antigens:
o sAg = surface (envelope) protein
o cAg = inner core protein
o eAg = secreted protein (unknown function)
- Note: Hepatitis B virus is one of the few non-retroviruses that use….REVERSE
TRANSCRIPTION to replicate!
- HBV presents as acute infection and then can progress to a chronic condition (as is not the
case in Hep A)
Epidemiology:
- 400-500 million people are infected worldwide (in SA, it is more common in rural areas. 50
million infected in SA. Rates are high due to chronic infection)
- 4 Main methods of Transmission (parenterally transmitted):
1.) Sexual Intercourse
o Predominant mode of transmission in adults
2.) Close Personal Contact
o This is the main method of transmission in children and families
o Commonest mode in high prevalence areas
o Also account’s for transmission in mental institutions and children’s homes
3.) Vertical Transmission
o This involves mainly mother to child transmission
Transplacental (very rare)
During delivery (of course, coz theres blood everywhere!)
Post natal (may possibly be due to close contact or breast feeding)
4.) Blood
o This is an almost definite means of transmission
o Blood transfusions
o Intravenous injections
o Organ donation (transplants)
o Sharing of needles
o Tattooing
o Acupuncture
o Renal dialysis
There are 5 types of hepatitis:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis D
Hepatitis E
Note: 90% of acute viral hepatitis is caused by Hepatitis A, B and C
The other 10% is made up of the following causes:
- Hepatitis D and E
- Yellow fever
- Herpes
o Herpes Simplex Virus
o Varicella Zoster
o Cytomegalo virus (CMV)
o Ebbstein Barr Virus (EBV)
- GB virus C
- TTV
, Hepatitis B:
- Aka serum Hepatitis
- Circular DNA genome
- ¾ is double stranded (i.e. it is incompletely d/s)
- Dane particle is the intact infectious particle of
the Hepatitis B virus
- Contains other components as well:
o Envelope
o Excess coat protein
- HBV has 3 Antigens:
o sAg = surface (envelope) protein
o cAg = inner core protein
o eAg = secreted protein (unknown function)
- Note: Hepatitis B virus is one of the few non-retroviruses that use….REVERSE
TRANSCRIPTION to replicate!
- HBV presents as acute infection and then can progress to a chronic condition (as is not the
case in Hep A)
Epidemiology:
- 400-500 million people are infected worldwide (in SA, it is more common in rural areas. 50
million infected in SA. Rates are high due to chronic infection)
- 4 Main methods of Transmission (parenterally transmitted):
1.) Sexual Intercourse
o Predominant mode of transmission in adults
2.) Close Personal Contact
o This is the main method of transmission in children and families
o Commonest mode in high prevalence areas
o Also account’s for transmission in mental institutions and children’s homes
3.) Vertical Transmission
o This involves mainly mother to child transmission
Transplacental (very rare)
During delivery (of course, coz theres blood everywhere!)
Post natal (may possibly be due to close contact or breast feeding)
4.) Blood
o This is an almost definite means of transmission
o Blood transfusions
o Intravenous injections
o Organ donation (transplants)
o Sharing of needles
o Tattooing
o Acupuncture
o Renal dialysis
