This document discusses the different types of hepatitis including A, B, C, D, and E. It covers the pathophysiology, assessment, and management of each. Hepatitis A is typically a mild infection transmitted through contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B and C are transmitted through bodily fluids and can lead to chronic infection. Hepatitis D requires a co-infection with hepatitis B. Hepatitis E is common in developing countries through contaminated water and spreads similarly to hepatitis A. Prevention focuses on vaccination, handwashing, and avoiding risky behaviors.

1. Blood borne Infectious
Diseases
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis D
Hepatitis E

2. Hepatitis A - Pathophysiology
• Transmitted by Enteric / Fecal-oral route
• Epidemic outbreaks are most often traced to contaminated drinking
water, milk, sliced meats, and undercooked shellfish
• Incubation period = 2-4 weeks (can range from 15-50 days after
ingestion of the virus)
• Communicable period starts towards the end of the incubation
period and continues for a few days after the patient becomes
jaundiced

3. Hepatitis A - Assessment
• 2 phases
• Phase 1- fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, nausea, and abdominal pain,
smokers lose their interest to smoke
• Phase 2- jaundice, dark colored urine, and pale, clay colored stools
• Hepatitis A is considered a “benign” or “mild” disease
• Typically resolves after several weeks

5. Hepatitis A – Management
• Prevention includes standard precautions: good handwashing
techniques, and wearing gloves
• Hepatitis A Vaccine is recommended for federal emergency
management agency response team members who may respond
outside of the United States

6. Hepatitis B – Pathophysiology
• Transmitted through infectious blood, semen, and other body fluids
primarily through sexual contact, blood transfusion, or puncture of
the skin with contaminated needles or other contaminated sharps
• Common among iv drug users who share their needles
• Data has suggested it has only been able to live outside of the host
body in dried blood for 7 days
• Incubation period = 60-150 days
• Symptom onset = typically beginning 90 days after exposure

7. Hepatitis B – Assessment
• Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and malaise, low-grade
fever, vague abdominal pain, and sometimes aching in the joints
• In people where the disease progresses into the 2nd phase, their urine
begins to darken, jaundice, and scleral icterus develops
• Usually last several weeks, and complete recovery is 3-4 months

9. Hepatitis B – Management

10. Hepatitis C - Pathophysiology
• Transmitted primarily through contact with blood
• Sharing needles, needle stick injuries, blood transfusion, blood
products, and organ transplants
• Being born to a mother with HEP C
• Hepatitis C virus can survive on environmental surfaces for up to 3
weeks at room temperature if not properly cleaned

11. Hepatitis C - Assessment
• s/s typically appear 6-7 weeks after exposure, with an average time of
4-12 weeks
• 70-80% of people with acute hepatitis C do NOT have symptoms
• s/s are the same as Hepatitis B virus
• Chronic HCV occurs when HCV
Remains in the persons body = leading
To serious liver problems, including
Cirrhosis or liver cancer

12. Hepatitis C – Management

13. Hepatitis D – Pathophysiology/Assessment
• Aka delta hepatitis
• This requires the host to be infected with hepatitis B for HDV infection
to occur
• HDV is considered a parasite for HBV
• Transmitted primarily via percutaneous exposure
• Incubation period = 30-180 days
• Blood is considered to be infectious during ALL phases of the illness
• S/S are the same as those associated with HBV infection

14. Hepatitis E – Pathophysiology/Assessment
• Transmitted enteric route / fecal-oral route
• Most common in under developing countries with an inadequate
water supply and poor environmental sanitation
• Can be spread by fecal contaminated drinking water, animals, un-
cooked or under cooked deer meat
• Incubation period = 15-60 days
• Communicable period = not determined
• S/S are the same as other hepatitis infections

15. Hepatitis E – Management