Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E, sometimes called hep E or HEV, is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis E virus. A virus is a microscopic particle that needs to get inside living cells in order to reproduce (spread).

Facts about Hepatitis E

How common is Hepatitis E?
What causes Hepatitis E?

Most people in the UK will not have heard of hepatitis E. Until very recently, it was thought to be a disease only found in developing countries. However, it is now accepted that the virus is also transmitted here.

Hepatitis E is generally mild in its effect unless you have pre-existing liver disease or are pregnant. Chronic infection (infection lasting over six months) caused by hepatitis E is very rare and usually only reported in patients with a suppressed immune system, for example in patients taking drugs to prevent rejection after an organ transplantation.

The hepatitis E virus is spread in a way similar to hepatitis A, known as ‘faecal-oral’ transmission. This means that the virus is passed out in bowel motions (faeces) and finds its way into the mouth (orally), usually through contaminated food or water. This is one of the reasons why it is important to wash your hands after going to the toilet. The illness does not usually spread easily within families, except when all members of the family have been drinking the same infected drinking water and/or contaminated food.

In European countries, such as the UK, the illness can also be caused by what is known as ‘zoonosis’. This means the virus can be found in animals such as pigs, wild boar, deer, rabbits and rats. It does not cause the animals any illness, however, the virus can sometimes be passed from the animal to humans. One way this can happen is by eating raw or undercooked meat. In most cases the source and route of infection is unknown.

Widespread outbreaks of the virus can occur frequently or constantly in overseas countries (referred to as ‘endemic areas’) where water supplies are contaminated with sewage after monsoons and flooding.

Unlike hepatitis B, C or D, there is no evidence of the hepatitis E virus being transmitted through sharing needles, bodily fluids or through sexual contact. However, there is a risk of transmission if there is mouth contact with the anal area.

There have also been a number of cases reported where hepatitis E has been transmitted through blood transfusions and organ transplants.

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis E?

After the virus enters your body there may be no symptoms for a period of two to nine weeks. This is known as the incubation period.

Symptoms of hepatitis E infection can include:

mild flu-like symptoms
fatigue (extreme tiredness), this can continue for some time after clearing the virus
change in urine colour – dark or brown
abdominal pain
jaundice
fever (high temperature)
loss of appetite
itching
nausea and vomiting (sickness)
aching joints and muscles
tingling, numbness and weakness in your arms and legs.

Direct person to person transmission is uncommon; however, people who have the virus may be infectious for up to two weeks after their symptoms appear. During this period you should not prepare meals for others and, if possible, should limit contact with others, especially those who are pregnant or have a pre-existing chronic liver disease.

If you become ill with hepatitis E, it is likely that you will develop a brief illness; most people will recover within a month. Becoming infected with hepatitis E in the UK and Europe usually results in a full recovery with few or no symptoms. However, some patients with a suppressed immune system may fail to clear the virus and develop a persisting (chronic) infection. Such patients can develop cirrhosis of the liver.

In some people, hepatitis E can affect the nervous system, and this can result in severe pain in the arms and legs. In some cases symptoms can clear completely within three to six months, but for other people there may be longer-lasting symptoms.

Important

If you have a pre-existing liver condition or you are pregnant, hepatitis E can cause you to be very ill, often resulting in hospital admission.

If you have a pre-existing liver condition or you are pregnant, hepatitis E can cause you to be very ill, often resulting in hospital admission.

Treatment for hepatitis E

There is no specific treatment for hepatitis E infection lasting less than six months (acute). It is regarded as a self-limiting disease, meaning that it runs a defined or limited course. Most people who have hepatitis E will go on to recover completely within four weeks from the start of their symptoms.

If you have an existing liver problem you may become unwell. A small number of such patients have been treated successfully with anti-viral therapy using the drug Ribavirin²⁸.

If you are pregnant or have a pre-existing liver condition and your doctor confirms you have hepatitis E, you should be referred to see a specialist urgently.

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Further Information

How can you reduce your risk of Hepatitis E?

Currently there is no vaccine available for hepatitis E and, because of this, it is sensible to take precautions when you travel to endemic areas or areas where the virus is known to occur. You should practice good hygiene; always wash your hands properly after using the bathroom and before preparing or eating food. Use alcohol hand gel or ‘baby-wipes’ for cleaning hands if soap and water are not available.

When travelling to an area where hepatitis E is common you are advised to avoid^12,15:

drinking tap water (drink bottled water where possible)
having ice cubes in your drinks
cleaning your teeth with tap water
drinking unpasteurised milk
eating uncooked meat and shellfish
eating unpeeled fruit and uncooked vegetables, including salads, that have not been prepared by you.

To reduce the risk of becoming infected with the virus in European countries, including the UK, you should ensure you thoroughly cook all meat, especially pork, before eating it. You should also wash your hands after touching uncooked meat or meat products.

If you suffer from a long standing liver disease, are pregnant or have a suppressed immune system, you should be particularly careful with raw meats, shellfish and pork products

Looking after yourself when you have Hepatitis E

Alcohol
Alcohol is processed by your liver and, as a result, it can be dangerous for anyone with liver problems. If you have hepatitis E it is important that you stop drinking alcohol for the duration of infection (the whole time) as it can make your symptoms worse¹¹.

Alcohol can accelerate the rate of liver damage in those with hepatitis B and C, and can limit the effectiveness of anti-viral treatment³⁰. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid alcohol in these circumstances.

Smoking
Smoking is dangerous to everyone’s health^{31, 32, 33}. Smoking can increase the severity of liver damage³⁴. People with liver disease are more vulnerable to infection and to general poor health, so smoking or exposure to passive smoking is not advisable. If you smoke, speak to your doctor about what help is available for cutting down and giving up.

Diet
Being overweight or obese can affect the progression, or treatment of, your liver condition. If you have a liver condition, there may be some special considerations you need to make in your diet to stay nutritionally well and to help manage your condition. Some of these are specific to certain liver diseases, others relate to how advanced your liver disease is (see our ‘Diet and liver disease’ publication).

For most people with hepatitis E there is no special diet, however, eating a good, balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself well. Regular low calorie meals containing protein (such as meat, fish or beans), starch (such as bread, potatoes or rice) and vitamins (in fruit and vegetables) is the best approach.

Exercise
If you have hepatitis E, and are experiencing symptoms, you should try to take gentle exercise such as a regular walk or a gentle swim. You should avoid strenuous exercise until after your symptoms have gone.

Maintaining a healthy weight is vital for the health of your liver. Once you no longer have the symptoms of hepatitis E, continuing to take regular exercise will help you to maintain a healthy weight. The Department of Health recommends adults should take at least half an hour’s gentle exercise a day, leaving you warm and slightly out of breath. You can do this all at once or, if you find it easier, in shorter 10-minute bouts. If you are overweight, the amount of exercise you do may need to be increased from 30 minutes to 45-90 minutes a day to help you to lose weight.

Finding an exercise that you enjoy will help; try walking, swimming, cycling or dancing. Make sure you start at a sensible rate with the aim to gradually build up the amount and intensity of exercise you do.

Complementary and alternative treatments

Many complementary and alternative medicines suggest they can ease the symptoms of liver disease. Before taking any medicine you should check with your doctor that it is safe to do so, as most of these are processed by the liver, so they can be toxic to people with liver conditions. Some can damage the liver and make you more severely ill. At present, healthcare professionals are not clear on the role and place of some complementary medicines in managing liver disease; further research is needed on their use.

Licensing has been introduced for some traditional herbal medicines; however, many herbal products are not classified as a medicine so there is no regulation of the product. This means you cannot be sure how much of the active ingredient you are getting or how pure it is. Unregulated products are not monitored or assessed for how effective or safe they are. Some remedies can damage the liver and make you more severely ill.

It is wise to be cautious about the claims made for herbal remedies, particularly those advertised on the internet, as they can offer false hope. It is important to discuss the use of these remedies with your doctor before taking them.

Some people choose to use complementary therapies alongside their conventional medical treatment, both to ease symptoms and emotional wellbeing. Such therapies may include massage, aromatherapy, meditation or acupuncture.

To ensure your chosen therapy does not adversely affect your health or medical treatment, you should discuss any therapies you are thinking of using with your doctor. Make sure your practitioner is registered with an accredited body; your doctor may be able to refer you to a locally recommended practitioner. Always inform your practitioner of your medical conditions as these may impact on the type of therapies that are safe for you.

Support if you have Hepatitis E

Please visit the support section of our website for information on Support groups in your area or visit our Useful Links section for other organisations who may be able to offer information and support. Other organisations which may be able to offer information:

The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC)
Web: www.nathnac.org
A centre funded by the Department of Health to promote clinical standards in travel medicine. The NaTHNaC website provides general health information for people travelling overseas. Advice covers infectious and non-infectious health risks, where they are found, and links to other resources to help you plan your travel.

Fit For Travel
Web: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk
A website provided by the NHS (Scotland). It gives travel health information for people travelling abroad from the UK.

Please visit the support section of our website for information on Support groups in your area.

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