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Signs and symptoms


- Hepatitis A usually causes a mild and self-limiting illness that lasts for a few weeks. The signs and symptoms include fever, malaise, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored stools, and jaundice. Some people may be asymptomatic or have a prolonged or relapsing course.

- Hepatitis B can cause either an acute or a chronic infection. The acute infection usually lasts for a few months and may be asymptomatic or cause mild to severe symptoms similar to hepatitis A. The chronic infection can be either inactive (with normal liver function tests and low viral load) or active (with abnormal liver function tests and high viral load). The active chronic infection can lead to complications such as cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.

- Hepatitis C can also cause either an acute or a chronic infection. The acute infection usually lasts for a few weeks and is often asymptomatic or causes mild symptoms similar to hepatitis A. The chronic infection can be either inactive (with normal liver function tests and low viral load) or active (with abnormal liver function tests and high viral load). The active chronic infection can lead to complications such as cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.

- Hepatitis D can cause either an acute or a chronic infection. The acute infection usually occurs as a co-infection with hepatitis B and causes severe symptoms similar to hepatitis A. The chronic infection usually occurs as a super-infection in people who already have chronic hepatitis B and causes rapid progression to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.

- Hepatitis E usually causes a mild and self-limiting illness that lasts for a few weeks. The signs and symptoms are similar to hepatitis A. However, in pregnant women, especially in the third trimester, it can cause severe complications such as fulminant hepatitis, preterm labor, fetal death, or maternal death.

- Hepatitis G usually causes a mild and asymptomatic infection that does not affect liver function. However, it may interact with other hepatitis viruses and affect their clinical outcomes.

- Other non-viral causes of hepatitis can cause various signs and symptoms depending on the specific agent, such as fever, rash, arthralgia, hemolysis, renal failure, or neurological disorders.

Questions on Signs and symptoms

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

This statement is incorrect. Chronic hepatitis is not primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Hepatitis A virus is transmitted through contaminated food or water and primarily spreads through the fecal-oral route. Hepatitis B and C viruses are commonly transmitted through blood contact, sexual contact, and from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth.

Correct Answer is ["A","B","C"]

Explanation

This statement is incorrect. Hepatitis B is not transmitted through inhaling infected air particles. It primarily spreads through blood contact and sexual contact.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Hepatitis E (HEV) is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus, but it is not partially double-stranded DNA, as stated in this choice. HEV is typically transmitted through the fecal-oral route, similar to HAV, and it can cause acute hepatitis, particularly in pregnant women, but it does not require a prior hepatitis B infection for transmission.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Hepatitis E (HEV) is primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route, similar to hepatitis A. Unlike what is stated in this choice, HEV does not require a person to be already infected with hepatitis B to cause infection.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

This statement accurately differentiates between acute and chronic hepatitis. Acute hepatitis is a short-term inflammation of the liver that typically resolves within six months. It can be caused by various factors, including viral infections (e.g., hepatitis A, B, and C), alcohol consumption, or drug toxicity. On the other hand, chronic hepatitis is a long-lasting inflammation of the liver that persists for more than six months. Chronic hepatitis can result from ongoing viral infections (e.g., hepatitis B and C) or other causes, such as autoimmune diseases.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Sexual contact is associated with the transmission of hepatitis B and other sexually transmitted infections, but it is not a significant mode of transmission for hepatitis A. Hepatitis A is mainly spread through fecal-oral transmission and does not commonly involve sexual contact.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Using intravenous drugs with a clean needle is a preventive measure for blood-borne infections like hepatitis B and C. However, it is not a preventive measure for hepatitis B transmission through sexual contact or perinatal transmission.

Correct Answer is ["A","C","D"]

Explanation

Hepatitis B is a viral cause of hepatitis and is not a non-viral cause. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and is transmitted through exposure to infected blood, sexual contact, or perinatal transmission from mother to child.

Correct Answer is ["A","C","D","E"]

Explanation

Confusion is another possible symptom in a client with hepatitis A. Severe cases of hepatitis A can lead to hepatic encephalopathy, causing confusion, altered mental status, and even coma.

Correct Answer is ["C","D","E"]

Explanation

Telbivudine is another antiviral agent that may be prescribed for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. It works by inhibiting reverse transcriptase, an enzyme necessary for viral replication.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

No explanation

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

"The goal of treatment is to achieve undetectable HDV RNA after the treatment ends" is incorrect. While achieving undetectable HDV RNA is a favorable outcome, it may not always be achievable with current therapies. The primary goal of treatment is to suppress viral replication, reduce liver inflammation, and slow down the progression of liver disease.

Antipyretics may be necessary for managing fever, which is a common symptom of hepatitis E. Controlling fever can help improve the client's comfort and prevent complications associated with high body temperature.

Providing antiviral medications to treat the infection is not a standard intervention for acute hepatitis A. Antiviral therapy is generally reserved for chronic hepatitis B and C infections and is not effective for acute hepatitis A, which usually resolves on its own with supportive care.

Undetectable HCV RNA 12 weeks after treatment is considered a sustained virological response (SVR) and indicates an effective response to antiviral therapy. SVR means that the virus is undetectable in the blood even after the completion of treatment, which indicates successful viral clearance.

No explanation

Implementing infection control measures to prevent transmission is crucial in suspected hepatitis cases, as the disease can spread through contact with contaminated blood or body fluids. Standard precautions should be followed to prevent healthcare-associated infections and protect others from contr

Blurred vision can occur as a side effect of antiviral therapy for hepatitis C. Some medications used in the treatment of hepatitis C can affect vision in some patients. The nurse should be vigilant in monitoring the client's visual acuity and report any changes to the healthcare provider.

Antiviral therapy is not indicated for hepatitis A since the infection usually resolves on its own. This statement is not appropriate for the patient with hepatitis A.

Screening blood donors and recipients for HBV infection is necessary to prevent the transmission of the virus through blood transfusions. It is a crucial safety measure to ensure that blood and blood products are free from hepatitis B virus and other infectious agents.

No explanation

D is incorrect because the hepatitis A vaccine is not given within 12 hours of birth to newborns of hepatitis A positive mothers. The vaccination schedule for hepatitis A vaccine varies depending on the country's recommendations but is typically given starting at 12-23 months of age.

Encouraging the patient to engage in strenuous physical activities to alleviate fatigue is not the priority education for a patient undergoing antiviral therapy. Strenuous physical activities might be counterproductive, as the patient may experience fatigue as a side effect of the therapy. Instead,

<p>Disinfecting contaminated surfaces or instruments with bleach or autoclave is not directly related to the care of a patient with suspected hepatitis D infection. Hepatitis D is primarily transmitted through blood and sexual contact, not through contaminated surfaces or instruments.</p>
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