Abstract
Hepatitis E was previously thought to be a disease of developing countries causing significant morbidity and mortality in young adults, particularly among pregnant women and patients with pre-existing chronic liver disease. Recent studies have shown that hepatitis E is also an issue in developed countries. In this setting, hepatitis E is a zoonotic infection and causes acute infection mainly in middle-aged and elderly men; and chronic infection in the immunosuppressed. The scope and burden of disease are still emerging. The diagnosis of hepatitis E should be considered in any patient with hepatitis, irrespective of their age or travel history.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-11 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of Viral Hepatitis |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2013 |
Keywords
- Hepatitis E
- virology
- developing countries
- emerging infectious diseases