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HCET Home > On-line Training > Addressing Hepatitis in Women > 9. Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Infection
9. Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) InfectionWhat is Hepatitis E?
| HEV is a common cause of hepatitis and is transmitted via the intestinal tract. It is most commonly spread by contaminated drinking water and therefore occurs most frequently in developing countries. | Click below Hepatitis E Virus photo |
HEV Statistics
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 Geographic Distribution |
Signs and Symptoms of HEV (23)
Typical clinical signs and symptoms of acute hepatitis E include:
- abdominal pain
- dark urine
- fever
- hepatomegaly
- jaundice
- malaise
- nausea
- vomiting
Other less common symptoms include:
- arthralgia
- diarrhea
- pruritus
- urticarial rash
- HEV is transmitted primarily from fecal-oral transmission, with fecally contaminated drinking water as the most commonly documented vehicle of transmission.
- According to the CDC, risk factors for infection among persons with sporadic cases of hepatitis E have not been defined (23).
- If acquired during pregnancy, HEV has been associated with high maternal and fetal mortality rates (8).
- Average: 40 days
- Range: 15-60 days
- Overall: 1-3%
- Pregnant Women: 15-25%
- Increases with age
- None identified
| Incubation Period | |
| Case Fatality Rate | |
| Illness Severity | |
| Chronic Sequelae |
The best ways to prevent HEV is to provide safe drinking water and take precautions to use sterilized water and beverages when traveling.
HEV can be found by microscopically examining a stool sample, but this is not a reliable test as the virus often dies when stored for a short time. No serologic tests to diagnose HEV infection are commercially available in the United States, only in research laboratories.
Currently, no medical therapy exists to treat HEV. Individuals infected with HEV should rest as much as possible and avoid alcoholic beverages.
