- Outbreaks and sporadic cases of epidemic hepatitis E are common in developing countries and are caused by HEV genotypes 1 and 2. The epidemic form is associated with waterborne and fecal-oral transmission, with humans as the exclusive hosts. The epidemic form is rarely imported to the United States via travel.
- In contrast, autochthonous hepatitis E is caused by genotypes 3 and 4, and pigs are the natural reservoir. Sporadic cases occur in developed countries when humans become accidental hosts. Rarely, transfusion-related HEV infection has occurred.
Hepatitis E virus infection
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Synopsis
Hepatitis E is an acute, self-limited hepatitis caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV). Although the disease is rarely diagnosed in industrialized countries, including the United States, hepatitis E is the most likely cause of acute hepatitis in adults worldwide and is highly endemic in Southeast Asia. On the basis of viral genetic and epidemiological features, the disease is divided into two forms, epidemic and autochthonous:
Codes
ICD10CM:
B17.2 – Acute hepatitis E
SNOMEDCT:
7111000119109 – Viral hepatitis type E
B17.2 – Acute hepatitis E
SNOMEDCT:
7111000119109 – Viral hepatitis type E
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Last Updated:08/05/2021
Hepatitis E virus infection