Since the development of jaundice is a hallmark of liver disease, a correct diagnosis can only be made by testing patients’ sera for the presence of particular viral antigens and/or anti-viral antibodies. Hepatitis is a general term that refers to inflammation of the liver and is a disease that can be caused by a variety of different viruses, such as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.
Hepatitis E (HEV), a non-enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus, is the cause of hepatitis E and was first identified as a distinct human disease in 1980.
Although humans are thought to be the virus’ natural host, antibodies to HEV or other closely related viruses have been found in a number of other animal species, including primates.
Transmition
Consuming fecal-contaminated drinking water has caused epidemics, and eating raw or uncooked shellfish has been the cause of isolated cases in endemic areas. Hepatitis E is a waterborne disease, and contaminated water or food supplies have been implicated in major outbreaks.
The risk factors for HEV infection are related to poor sanitation in many parts of the world, and HEV shedding in feces. Since several non-human primates, pigs, cows, sheep, goats, and rodents are susceptible to infection.
There is little evidence for transfusion- or sexually-transmitted cases, and person-to-person transmission is rare.
The disease
There are no chronic infections reported, the period of communicability is unknown, and the incubation period after HEV exposure ranges from 3 to 8 weeks, with a mean of 40 days.
Although HEV infection is common in children, it is typically asymptomatic or results in a very mild illness without jaundice that goes undiagnosed. The hepatitis E virus causes acute sporadic and epidemic viral hepatitis. HEV infection is most common in young adults aged 15 to 40.
Hepatitis commonly manifests as the following:
- The symptoms of jaundice include pale stools, dark urine, and yellowed skin and eye sclera.
- anorexia (loss of appetite),
- hepatomegaly, an enlarged, tender liver
- Although the severity of the illness can range from subclinical to fulminate, symptoms include fever, nausea, and vomiting in addition to abdominal pain and tenderness.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of hepatitis E is made by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or blood tests that detect elevated antibody levels of specific antibodies to hepatitis E in the body since cases of hepatitis E are not clinically distinguishable from other types of acute viral hepatitis. Sadly, such tests are not widely available.
If laboratory tests are not available, epidemiologic evidence can assist in making a diagnosis of hepatitis E in outbreaks of waterborne hepatitis in developing nations, particularly if the disease is more severe in pregnant women or if hepatitis A has been ruled out.
Surveillance and control
Follow these steps for surveillance and control
- supplying clean water for drinking and disposing of waste in a sanitary manner
- monitoring disease incidence
- the use of epidemiologic research to identify the infection’s source and its mode of transmission.
- detection of outbreaks
- spread containment
Prevention
Since nearly all HEV infections are transmitted via the fecal-oral route, high standards for public water supplies, good personal hygiene, and proper disposal of sanitary waste have led to low prevalences of HEV infections in many advanced societies.
The typical basic food hygiene precautions, such as avoiding drinking water and/or ice of questionable purity and avoiding eating raw shellfish, raw fruits, or raw vegetables that have not been peeled or otherwise prepared by the traveler, are advised for those who will be visiting highly endemic areas.
Treatment of Hepatitis E
Since hepatitis E is a viral illness, antibiotics are of no use in the treatment of the infection, and neither pre-exposure prophylaxis nor post-exposure prophylaxis with hyperimmune E globulin are currently available. Additionally, HEV infections are typically self-limited, so hospitalization is typically not necessary.
Hospitalization is necessary for fulminate hepatitis and should be taken into consideration for pregnant women who have the infection. Homeopathy plays an effective role in hepatitis cases by improving the immunological levels. As no specific therapy is capable of altering the course of acute hepatitis E infection, prevention is the most effective strategy against the disease.
Homeopathic Treatment of Hepatitis-E
Hepatitis E cases can be successfully managed with the aid of homeopathic medicines because they have an immunological effect.
The general health is greatly improved on these homeopathic medicines without any side effects, and taking them for a longer period of time helps improve immunological levels and the disease can be kept under control. Homeopathic treatment can help in delaying the complications and the disease process is kept under check with symptomatic relief.
In cases of hepatitis, homeopathy is strongly advised because it has demonstrated effectiveness in treating a variety of viral infections.
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