Hepatitis A vs Hepatitis E
How to tell Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E apart when a board question makes them look alike.
Both are fecal-oral; contaminated water and third-trimester fulminant-risk push hepatitis E.
Side by side
Fecal-oral acute hepatitis linked to food, daycare, close contact, or lack of vaccination.
Fecal-oral acute hepatitis linked to contaminated water, with third-trimester pregnancy carrying up to 20-25% mortality from fulminant liver failure.
Acute viral hepatitis spread through ingestion and close-person exposure.
Acute viral hepatitis spread through contaminated water sources.
Anti-HAV IgM supports acute hepatitis A.
Pregnancy plus waterborne outbreak is the strongest hepatitis E clue; chronic infection is mainly an immunosuppressed-host concern.
The trap
In healthy hosts both are usually acute, but hepatitis E can persist in immunosuppressed patients.
Watch it explained
The repair move
For fecal-oral hepatitis, ask two things: vaccine/close contact or pregnancy/water exposure, then check immune status for chronic hepatitis E risk.
Try a free question
CoreA 29-year-old pregnant patient develops jaundice, malaise, markedly elevated aminotransferases, and worsening coagulopathy after drinking from a contaminated water source while traveling. Which infection best explains the presentation?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Hepatitis E. Waterborne acute hepatitis with fulminant risk in pregnancy points to hepatitis E.
Why the other choices are tempting
- A. Hepatitis A is fecal-oral and food/daycare-associated, but pregnancy-associated fulminant risk is more characteristic of hepatitis E.
- C. Hepatitis B is blood/body-fluid transmitted and may become chronic.
- D. Hepatitis C commonly becomes chronic and is usually bloodborne.
- E. EBV hepatitis is usually part of mononucleosis with lymphadenopathy and atypical lymphocytes.
Flashcards
Tap a card to flip it.
What exposure pattern favors hepatitis A?
Foodborne spread, daycare, close contact, or lack of vaccination fits hepatitis A.
What exposure pattern favors hepatitis E?
Contaminated water exposure, especially in travel or outbreak settings, favors hepatitis E.
Quick answers
What is the fastest way to tell Hepatitis A from Hepatitis E?
Both are fecal-oral; contaminated water and third-trimester fulminant-risk push hepatitis E.
What is the key clue for Hepatitis A?
Fecal-oral acute hepatitis linked to food, daycare, close contact, or lack of vaccination.
What is the key clue for Hepatitis E?
Fecal-oral acute hepatitis linked to contaminated water, with third-trimester pregnancy carrying up to 20-25% mortality from fulminant liver failure.
What is the common trap with Hepatitis A vs Hepatitis E?
In healthy hosts both are usually acute, but hepatitis E can persist in immunosuppressed patients.