Hepatitis E history and symptoms

History and symptoms
The incidence of hepatitis E is highest in adults between the ages of 15 and 40. Though children often contract this infection as well, they less frequently become symptomatic. Mortality rates are generally low, for Hepatitis E is a “self-limiting” disease, in that it usually goes away by itself and the patient recovers. However, during the duration of the infection (usually several weeks), the disease severely impairs a person’s ability to work, care for family members, and obtain food. Hepatitis E occasionally develops into an acute severe liver disease, and is fatal in about 2% of all cases. Clinically, it is comparable to hepatitis A, but in pregnant women the disease is more often severe and is associated with a clinical syndrome called as 'fulminant hepatic failure'. Pregnant women, especially those in the third trimester, suffer an elevated mortality rate from the disease ~20%.


 * Prolonged cholestasis has been described in up to 60 percent of patients.
 * Jaundice
 * Malaise
 * Anorexia
 * Nausea
 * Vomiting
 * Abdominal pain
 * Fever
 * Hepatomegaly
 * Other less common features include diarrhea, arthralgia, pruritus, and urticarial rash. Some patients have asymptomatic infection.