Acute hepatitis E virus

It is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis E virus that inflames the liver. 

It is more frequent in developing countries where access to drinking water is limited and hygienic conditions are poor. It generally affects adolescents and can be especially serious in pregnant women.

The virus is transmitted by drinking water contaminated by the feces of people who have the infection; it may also be transmitted by the use of ice made from contaminated water. In more developed countries, the most common route of infection is the ingestion of undercooked meat, usually pork or venison. 

A high percentage of infected persons show no symptoms. When they do, it is usually in the form of tiredness, general malaise, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, dark-colored urine, whitish feces and yellowish skin and eyes.
In people with other liver diseases, hepatitis E virus infection can lead to severe liver failure.

It is diagnosed by clinical questioning and after analysis of a blood sample where the virus will be detected in the acute phase, or the presence of antibodies if the disease has already passed. 

Treatment is symptomatic, soothing the itching of the skin with cholestyramine and ensuring proper hydration and adequate rest. There is currently no vaccine to protect against hepatitis E virus infection. 

The vast majority of people get better within a few weeks without treatment. It rarely becomes a chronic infection, being more likely in people with permanently low defenses, either by immunosuppressive treatments or infections such as HIV.