Hepatitis
Hepatitis E
Hepatitis E is caused by the hepatitis E virus. It's usually caught by consuming food and drink contaminated with the poo of an infected person. It's now the most common cause of short-term (acute) hepatitis in the UK.
Hepatitis E is generally a mild and short-term infection that doesn't require any treatment, but it can be serious in a small number of people. It can become chronic in people who have a suppressed immune system, such as those who have had an organ transplant.
There's no vaccine for hepatitis E, but you can reduce your risk by practising good food and water hygiene measures , particularly when travelling to parts of the world with poor sanitation.
The British Liver Trust has more information about hepatitis E .
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dez 2018
Introduction
Hepatitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the liver. It's usually the result of a viral infection or liver damage caused by drinking alcohol.
Symptoms of hepatitis
Short-term (acute) hepatitis often has no noticeable symptoms, so you may not realise you have it. If symptoms do develop, they can include: muscle and joint pain a high temperature (fever) of 38
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus. It's usually caught by consuming food and drink contaminated with the poo of an infected person and is most common in countries where sanitation is poor
Hepatitis E
Hepatitis E is caused by the hepatitis E virus. It's usually caught by consuming food and drink contaminated with the poo of an infected person. It's now the most common cause of short-term (acute) he
Alcoholic hepatitis
Alcoholic hepatitis is a type of hepatitis caused by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over many years. The condition is common in the UK and many people don't realise they have it because it doe
Autoimmune hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare cause of long-term hepatitis in which the immune system attacks and damages the liver. Eventually, the liver can become so damaged that it stops working properly. Trea
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