Prevention of Hepatitis E in Summer

Viral hepatitis is a common infectious disease caused by a variety of hepatitis viruses. It is highly contagious, has complex transmission routes, is widely prevalent, and has a high incidence rate. The viral hepatitis family has six basic members, namely, A, B, C, D, E, and G viruses. There is no cross-immunity between the types, and they can be infected successively, mixedly infected, or superimposedly infected. At present, the public knows more about hepatitis A and hepatitis B, but knows less about hepatitis C, D, E, and G, especially hepatitis E. Hepatitis E is one of the Class B statutory infectious diseases in my country. It is an acute infectious disease caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection, but it is easily overlooked in clinical practice and prevention. my country is in a highly prevalent area of ​​hepatitis E, and the incidence of hepatitis E is increasing year by year. Data show that since 2012, the incidence of hepatitis E has continued to exceed hepatitis A among enterally transmitted hepatitis and ranks first among acute viral hepatitis. At present, it is mostly sporadic in my country, but it is easy to spread widely during the rainy season and after floods.

Hepatitis E is mainly transmitted through the digestive tract. Patients or animals carrying the virus can excrete the hepatitis E virus into the body through feces. The virus in the external environment contaminates water, food, tableware, etc. and causes infection. In addition, it can also be transmitted through blood transfusion and mother-to-child transmission, but it generally occurs less frequently. Hepatitis E is a zoonosis. More than ten kinds of animals that have close contact with humans, such as pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, dogs, etc., can be infected with the hepatitis E virus. Among them, pigs have the highest infection rate and may be an important source of hepatitis E. Therefore, eating raw meat or half-cooked animal meat products and seafood may also infect hepatitis E. In rural areas, due to poor environmental sanitation, drinking water hygiene and bad hygiene habits, people are very likely to be infected and develop the disease through daily contact; urban residents seek novelty and the current trend of eating raw meat, fish or seafood will give the hepatitis E virus an opportunity to take advantage.

Anyone without hepatitis E antibodies may be infected with the hepatitis E virus. Hepatitis E is more lethal to pregnant women, patients with chronic liver disease, and the elderly. Pregnant women infected with hepatitis E are prone to miscarriage, premature birth, and stillbirth. One-third of pregnant women infected will develop severe hepatitis, with a mortality rate of 20-50%. The hepatitis E virus can also be transmitted vertically from mother to child, causing hepatitis E in newborns or leading to death. The compensatory capacity of various organ functions in the elderly is reduced, their resistance is weak, and they often have underlying diseases. After being infected with hepatitis E, it is very easy to develop severe hepatitis. Patients with chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, fatty liver, alcoholic liver, and cirrhosis are prone to develop severe hepatitis after being infected with hepatitis E. Patients with chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis are prone to acute liver failure after being infected with hepatitis E virus, increasing the risk of death.

So, how to prevent hepatitis E?

Pay attention to personal hygiene. Develop the habit of washing hands before and after meals, especially pay attention to food hygiene, do not drink raw water, boil it thoroughly before drinking; do not eat raw, cold, unclean, or spoiled food, do not eat half-cooked seafood and meat, cook them thoroughly; use public chopsticks and spoons when dining together, and reduce dining in environments with poor hygiene conditions and ordering food from takeaways with uncertain hygiene conditions to prevent diseases from entering the body through the mouth.

Manage the source of infection. If there are hepatitis E patients around you, take isolation measures in time. They should be isolated for about 4 weeks from the date of onset, and disinfect the daily necessities, tableware, feces, secretions, etc. used by them until the patient recovers and the virus disappears. During the patient's illness, isolation and protection of the patient should be strengthened, personal hygiene should be maintained, and nutritional support and psychological comfort should be given. Close contacts of hepatitis E patients should be under medical observation.

Get vaccinated against hepatitis E. There is currently no specific treatment for hepatitis E. Vaccination against hepatitis E is an effective means of preventing hepatitis E. In 2012, the world's first hepatitis E vaccine was born in my country, and China became the first and only country in the world to have a hepatitis E vaccine. Get vaccinated as early as possible to get protection as early as possible to avoid irreversible damage and consequences. The hepatitis E vaccine is suitable for people over 16 years old, and the whole process is 3 injections according to the "0, 1, 6" procedure. The recommended population for vaccination is women of childbearing age, middle-aged and elderly people, food workers, students or military officers and soldiers, animal husbandry workers, and patients with chronic liver disease.