Hepatitis A

Question 1

Description: What is hepatitis A and what age group does it affect most commonly?

Answer 1

Acute inflammation of the liver affecting younger people (5-14 years old)

Question 2

Description: What type of virus is hepatitis A? (2)

Answer 2

• Enteric

- RNA

Question 3

Aetiology/Risk Factors: NOT IN THE LECTURE

Answer 3

AAA

Question 4

Pathology: Describe how the hepatitis A virus is transmitted.

Answer 4

The enteric virus transmitted via the following routes:

• Faecal–oral (ingestion of contaminated food or water)
• Sexual
• Blood

Question 5

Symptoms: What symptom is common in hepatitis A? (1)

Answer 5

Asymptomatic cases are very common

Question 6

Signs: NOT IN THE LECTURE

Answer 6

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Question 7

Investigations: In hepatitis A, how do we diagnose acute disease?

Answer 7

IgM antibodies in the blood to diagnose acute disease

Question 8

Complications: NOT IN THE LECTURE

Answer 8

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Question 9

Treatment: NOT IN THE LECTURE

Answer 9

AAA

Question 10

Extra: Who gets a hepatitis A vaccine (HAV)?

Answer 10

• Travellers
• Haemophiliacs
• Occupational exposure (lab workers)
• Men who have sex with men
• Patients with chronic liver disease