Acquiring Hepatitis E infection can be dreadful during pregnancy. Read on to learn more about Hepatitis E infection during pregnancy and how pregnant women can protect themselves from this infection.A single-stranded RNA virus, Hepatitis E virus has the ability to cause large scale epidemics, and that too of actual hepatitis virus. If any man or non-pregnant woman is infected with this virus, they have little reason to fret as the fatality rate is less than 0.1%; things are not that casual when it comes to an expectant mother.
While this virus has higher fatality rates in developing countries like India, it can also cause hepatic failure.
Understanding the Origins and Spread of Hepatitis E
An interesting research without any substantial understanding has been linked to the spread of Hepatitis E virus in expectant mothers. While the fatality rates in India are very high, often leading to widespread death in patients, the rates drop when it comes to countries in Europe or USA.
Having its origins in India in the 1950’s, this virus remained without being decoded for almost 30 years. However, the consistent research and development in this field helped the scientists to isolate the Hepatitis E virus. The developed and industrialized countries all over the world have been instrumental in highlighting the unchecked emergence of Hepatitis E virus in pregnant women. Studies conducted in France also talk about the mystery related to the liver infection that happens in pregnant women due to Hepatitis E.
Decoding and Diagnosing the Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Infection
Unfortunately, HEV cannot be isolated from the other Hepatitis viruses, and clearly depends on laboratory assessment to be spotted. The viral genome in blood or feces is detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or by detection of immunoglobulin.
It is necessary for the expectant mothers travelling to regions with a history of HEV to be counseled and made aware about this infection. Better sanitary precautions, including the use of bottled water are a healthy beginning in order to avoid HEV infection. Even in countries like USA, there is no readily available vaccine for HEV. The main worry linked to HEV in pregnant women is the complication it carries. While public health measure can help a lot in reducing the causes of HEV infection, it all comes down to the precautions taken by an expectant mother during her travels or living. Avoiding water directly from the municipal line, having fresh vegetables, washing with clean water and maintaining over all hygiene goes a long way in securing one’s health from HEV infection.
Symptoms of HEV Infection in Pregnant Women
It is important to realize the symptoms of HEV infection as early as possible. Loss of appetite resulting in abnormal
weight loss, abdominal pain, consistent
tiredness, nausea (including vomiting in a few cases), mild fever, yellow skin, dark urine, along with fever and chills are common indicators of an HEV infection.
The women who have never contracted HEV infection are always at risk. However, most people who recover have lifelong immunity from the infection. A saddening fact is that 20% of the women who happen to contract the infection in the third trimester of the pregnancy do not live.
Protecting Oneself from the Curse of HEV Infection
With an incubation period of 15-64 days and the constant threat of infecting others with the infection, it becomes really important to understand, have it diagnosed and follow the curing practices with greater efficiency.
While medicine and science are still striving hard to discover an appropriate vaccination for the same, many expectant mothers in different cultures all over the world have turned towards necessary precautions to safe themselves and ultimately their babies.
Not only an expecting mother, but the people around her have an important role to play in preventing the HEV
infection. Governments all over the world are striving hard to improve sanitation conditions in order to prevent the growth of this disease and hence it is important for the people to cooperate in order to sustain a global healthy society for expectant mothers.
What are the symptoms of Hepatitis E infection during pregnancy? How to prevent Hepatitis E infection during pregnancy? What are the causes of Hepatitis E infection during pregnancy? Discuss here.