What are the harms of hepatitis E?
Jan 02, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Introduction
In general, hepatitis E refers to hepatitis E virus infection. Hepatitis E may cause various complications such as fatigue, loss of appetite, jaundice, fulminant hepatitis, and hepatic coma. Patients are advised to receive symptomatic treatment under medical guidance. In addition, hepatitis E may also lead to complications such as disseminated intravascular coagulation.
In general, hepatitis E refers to hepatitis E viral infection. Hepatitis E may cause symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, jaundice, severe hepatitis, and hepatic coma. Patients are advised to follow medical advice for symptomatic treatment. Specific analyses are as follows:
1. Fatigue
Liver function in patients may be impaired, potentially affecting normal metabolism and leading to physical weakness, commonly accompanied by significant fatigue. Patients can take medications such as polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules or compound glycyrrhizin tablets according to medical instructions.
2. Loss of appetite
Some patients may experience poor appetite during the illness, which could lead to weight loss. Patients can use vitamin B6 injection or mecobalamin tablets under medical guidance.
3. Jaundice
Patients may develop yellowing of the skin and sclera during the illness, along with dark yellow urine. Under a doctor's guidance, patients may take medications such as ursodeoxycholic acid capsules or ademetionine butanedisulfonate enteric-coated tablets.
4. Severe hepatitis
Excessive replication of the hepatitis E virus can severely damage or destroy liver cells, triggering widespread inflammatory responses in the liver and possibly causing liver tissue necrosis. This leads to serious liver dysfunction, manifesting as anorexia, vomiting, abdominal distension, and lethargy. Medications such as lamivudine tablets or ribavirin tablets may be used as directed by a physician.
5. Hepatic coma
Due to liver damage, bilirubin in bile cannot be excreted normally, leading to elevated bilirubin levels that exert toxic effects on the central nervous system. Additionally, metabolic byproducts of ammonia may accumulate significantly in the body, worsening toxicity and potentially causing brain dysfunction, resulting in mental confusion, vomiting, and coma. Medications such as aspartate-ornithine granules or rifaximin tablets may be administered under medical supervision.
Besides the above, hepatitis E viral infection may also lead to complications such as disseminated intravascular coagulation. If patients experience discomfort, they should promptly seek evaluation and treatment at a qualified medical facility to avoid delays in care.
