Viral hepatitis

Question 1

What is hepatitis, which virus causes it

Answer 1

Hepatit A,B and C virus causes hepatitis which is an inflammation of the liver

Question 2

What are the acute and chronic symptoms of HBV

Answer 2

Acute - Jaundice, fever, nausea etc.

Chronic - Cirrhosis (scar formation of the liver), and Hepatocellular carcinoma

Question 3

What determine if one is able to clear the Hepatitis viral infection

Answer 3

In order to clear the virus one needs to have robust and strong responding antigen-specific T cells. which is common in all adults (95% clearance). However, if a child is infected via mother or blood, 95% become Chronically infected with Hepatitis virus - no strong immune response

Question 4

What is hepatocellular carcinoma

Answer 4

HCC is a liver cancer, 3rd highest cancer related morbidities worldwide, 80% of all cases is due to Chronic HBV infection

Question 5

What is the difference between HBV and HCV

Answer 5

HCV is curative compared to HBV! Many adult are able to clear the HBV infection themselves but many may still carry the viral genome.

HCV is not time-dependent regarding disease outcome

HCV and HBV both have the same symptoms for acute and chronically infection