Hepatitis E from a meal of oysters

This is the 4412th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

Recently, Xiao Wang always feels something is wrong. He feels weak all over, especially after get off work. He just wants to lie on the sofa and doesn’t want to move. When he wakes up from a nap, he is not as energetic as before. I wonder if it is because I have been too busy and have not exercised recently. After get off work yesterday, I forced myself to run 500 meters. This morning, I couldn’t get up at all. I haven’t enjoyed food for more than ten days. I always feel full after eating. According to previous experience, I took "Metoclopramide" several times. It was better for a while, but I soon felt full. I feel a little disgusted when I see greasy things. Yesterday, I specially ordered my favorite braised pork, but I vomited before I even touched my chopsticks after taking a look. Also, my urine used to be yellow in the morning. Now even the urine I pee after drinking water during the day is very yellow, like strong tea.

I have to go to the hospital for a checkup tomorrow, Xiao Wang thought. I feel like there is something wrong with my body. I have never been to the hospital in my life. I will ask my friend Xiao Peng to go with me tomorrow.

Xiao Wang was just thinking about going tomorrow, but when he walked to the company gate, he ran into Xiao Peng. Before he could say hello, Xiao Peng suddenly screamed: "Xiao Wang, what's wrong with you? Why are you all yellow? Go look in the mirror." "Really? I feel something is wrong recently, for about ten days." He quickly went to the mirror in the company's bathroom and was shocked. His whole face, arms, hands, and even belly were all yellow. Am I suffering from a terminal illness? Xiao Wang's heart sank. There are still many wishes that have not been fulfilled. Thinking about it, tears are about to flow down.

"I'll go to the hospital with you." Xiao Wang's mind went blank, and he followed Xiao Peng to the nearest tertiary hospital. He lined up, registered, and waited for the consultation. Dozens of minutes seemed to have passed for centuries. Finally, Xiao Wang got to see the doctor. The doctor was a very gentle female doctor with a warm smile and wise eyes. She carefully asked Xiao Wang about his diet, drinking, living conditions, recent discomfort, and what discomfort he had in the past three months. Xiao Wang answered them one by one. The doctor took detailed notes, and then carefully looked at Xiao Wang's eyes, palms, and stomach. He wrote a test order and asked Xiao Wang to have his blood drawn.

Half an hour later, the results came out. Looking at the rows of arrows on the test report, Xiao Wang became even more anxious. So many indicators were out of standard. I was afraid that I had a serious disease. Is there any cure? Xiao Wang thought desperately.

When Xiao Wang went to see the doctor, he was in a daze. "You have icteric hepatitis," the doctor said. "The liver function transaminase has increased significantly, reaching more than 1000U/L, and the jaundice is also high, reaching more than 100umol/l. You need to be hospitalized to further clarify the cause and treatment."

With Xiao Peng's help, Xiao Wang completed the hospitalization procedures and stayed in the hospital with peace of mind. On the third day after the injection, Xiao Wang felt much better. As for what disease he had, although the doctor who received him in the hospital told him a lot, Xiao Wang was still confused. He just knew that he had liver problems. Could it be liver cancer? How did he get it? It is said that hepatitis is an infectious disease. Will the person in the next bed infect me with the disease? Xiao Wang plans to ask the doctor tomorrow morning.

At 8:30 in the morning, the director and the attending physician came to check on Xiao Wang. After carefully questioning and examining him, the director said, "Young man, your test results are out. This time you have acute icteric hepatitis E, which is an acute viral hepatitis. Have you eaten uncooked seafood, meat, or cold dishes in the past three months, or has anyone living with you ever had hepatitis E?"

"I did eat grilled oysters two months ago, and I felt that they were not fully cooked," Xiao Wang said after recalling carefully.

"Hepatitis E virus is transmitted through food and water contaminated by the virus. In addition, it can also be transmitted through blood. Pregnant women can transmit it to their fetuses. Close contact can also transmit hepatitis E. This time it is probably related to the undercooked oysters you ate before. You should not eat raw or half-cooked meat products in the future. The cutting boards for cold dishes and cooked food should be separate." The director said kindly. "Don't worry too much. Hepatitis E is an acute viral infection. It is rarely chronic. Your condition is much better now. Continue to be hospitalized for treatment. You can be discharged when your condition improves."

"Director, I have another question," Xiao Wang said, "Will I spread the virus to the people I live with after I go home?"

"The infectious stage of hepatitis E is mainly the latent stage of the virus in the body after infection and the early stage of the disease. The hepatitis E virus usually stays dormant in the body for 15-75 days, with an average of 36 days. You ate oysters two months ago. By the time you were discharged from the hospital in the recovery period, you were basically not contagious."

"Will the hepatitis B in the next bed be transmitted to me?" Xiao Wang asked again. This question has been bothering him for two days, ever since he found out from chatting that the guy in the next bed had hepatitis B.

"Don't worry, hepatitis B is mainly transmitted through blood contact, vertical transmission from mother to child (that is, mothers with hepatitis B transmit the virus to their babies), percutaneous contact with blood and body fluids containing hepatitis B virus, sexual contact, and close contact. You live in the same room and share a bathroom, so you won't be infected. Besides, after being admitted to the hospital, you were checked and found to have protective antibodies against hepatitis B, so you don't have to worry about being infected." The director explained with a smile.

Xiao Wang's anxious heart finally settled down. He then took injections and medicines on time every day. His skin and eyes slowly returned to their original color, and his liver function was gradually recovering. In less than 3 weeks, he met the discharge criteria and went through the discharge procedures.

I will never eat raw seafood or meat again, and I will tell my friends and relatives about my experience. Looking at the checkout list, Xiao Wang thought to himself.

Department of Hepatology II, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital

Author: Li Zhiyu, deputy chief physician

Reviewer: Wang Fang, Chief Physician