| Factsheet |  |
Hepatitis E
Hepatitis E is a viral infection that affects the liver. Infection usually occurs after drinking faecally-contaminated water. Most people in Australia are infected whilst travelling in developing countries. Infection can be prevented by avoiding drinking untreated water.
Last updated: 20 July 2011
What is Hepatitis E?
'Hepatitis' means inflammation or swelling of the liver. It can be caused by chemicals or drugs, or by different kinds of viral infection. Hepatitis E is caused by the hepatitis E virus and most people recover after several days or weeks. It can be serious in pregnant women, especially during the third trimester.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of hepatitis E include:
- diarrhoea
- nausea
- vomiting
- tiredness
- abdominal/gut pain
- fever
- dark urine
- pale stools
- loss of appetite
- yellowing of skin and eyeballs (jaundice).
Symptoms develop on average 26 to 42 days after the infection, though this differs between people and can be anywhere from 15 to 64 days after infection.
Some people, especially children, have no symptoms but can still spread the virus to others.
How is it spread?
Hepatitis E is common in developing countries where there is poor sanitation and little access to clean water.
It can be spread though exposure to:
- drinking untreated water
- eating food prepared by an infected person
- direct contact with an infected person such as a household member or sexual partner, or in child care or health care settings.
The infectious period of hepatitis E is unclear, but the virus can be excreted in the stools of an infected individual up to 14 days after the onset of jaundice.
Who is at risk?
People who live in or travel to developing countries are at most risk. The virus is common in many parts of central and south-east Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
How is it prevented?
When travelling to developing countries use bottled or boiled water (for drinking and brushing your teeth). Do NOT consume untreated water or ice. Eat only fruit or vegetables that you peel yourself and food that is freshly cooked and piping hot.
Wash your hands thoroughly using soap for at least 10 seconds and dry them with a clean towel after the toilet, after caring for someone with diarrhoea and/or vomiting, and before preparing food.
There is no vaccine for hepatitis E.
What can be done to avoid infecting others?
If you have hepatitis E, as well as washing your hands thoroughly, you should avoid the following activities while infectious:
- preparing food or drink for other people
- providing health care for others
- swimming or using hot tubs for at least two weeks after symptoms commence (or for as long as diarrhoea persists if this is longer)
- having sex.
Babies and children with the infection should not attend childcare or school while infectious.
How is it treated?
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis E.
How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis is based on the patient's symptoms and confirmed by a blood test showing antibodies to hepatitis E.
What is the public health response?
- Doctors, hospitals and laboratories must confidentially notify cases of hepatitis E infection to the local Public Health Unit.
- Public Health Unit staff will work with the doctor, the patient or the patient's family to identify close contacts at risk of infection and arrange for those at risk to receive information about the disease. Public Health Unit staff have guidelines for managing cases of hepatitis E in people who attend or work at a child care centre, and in people who handle food for sale.
- Public Health Unit staff also investigate outbreaks of hepatitis E to identify the cause, control its spread and prevent further infections.
| Further information - Public Health Units in NSW | |||||
| For more information please contact your doctor, local public health unit or community health centre - look under NSW Government at the front of the White Pages | |||||
| Metropolitan Areas | Location | Number | Rural Areas | Location | Number |
| Northern Sydney/Central Coast | Hornsby | 02 9477 9400 | Greater Southern | Goulburn | 02 4824 1837 |
| Gosford | 02 4349 4845 | Albury | 02 6080 8900 | ||
| South Eastern Sydney/Illawarra | Randwick | 02 9382 8333 | Greater Western | Broken Hill | 08 8080 1499 |
| Wollongong | 02 4221 6700 | Dubbo | 02 6841 5569 | ||
| Sydney South West | Camperdown | 02 9515 9420 | Bathurst | 02 6339 5601 | |
| Sydney West | Penrith | 02 4734 2022 | Hunter/New England | Newcastle | 02 4924 6477 |
| Parramatta | 02 9840 3603 | Tamworth | 02 6764 8000 | ||
| Justice Health Service | Matraville | 02 9311 2707 | North Coast | Port Macquarie | 02 6588 2750 |
| Lismore | 02 6620 7585 | ||||