Person-to-Person Bacterial and Viral Diseases - Hepatitis

7 important questions on Person-to-Person Bacterial and Viral Diseases - Hepatitis

What are the major hepatitis viruses, and which ones account for the majority of cases worldwide?

The major hepatitis viruses are A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis viruses A, B, and C account for the majority of cases worldwide.

Describe the transmission modes of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). How is HDV transmission related to HBV, and how does the HBV vaccine provide indirect protection against HDV?

HBV is transmitted via blood transfusions, contact with infected blood in a hypodermic needle, and from mother to child during childbirth. HDV coinfects with HBV, relying on HBV to produce capsid proteins. The HBV vaccine indirectly protects against HDV by preventing HBV infection.

How is Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) commonly transmitted, and what are the potential outcomes of HCV infection?

HCV is commonly transmitted by sharing needles and syringes for the injection of illicit drugs. Initially mild or asymptomatic, HCV infection may progress to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
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What preventive measures and treatments are available for hepatitis infections?




  1. Vaccines are available for HAV and HBV. Universal precautions are recommended for prevention. Supportive treatment is common, and some antiviral drugs are available for HBV and HCV. A specific antiviral drug for HCV can achieve a complete cure.

What host organ do hepatitis viruses attack? How are hepatitis A, B, and C viruses transmitted?

Hepatitis viruses primarily attack the liver. Hepatitis A virus is transmitted through contaminated food or water, hepatitis B through unprotected sex, sharing needles, or from mother to baby during childbirth, and hepatitis C through blood contact such as sharing needles or through organ transplants before 1992.

What are the symptoms of Ebola virus infection, and why is it challenging to distinguish Ebola from other tropical diseases initially?

Initial symptoms include fever and malaise. More severe symptoms include severe fever, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite. Distinguishing Ebola from other tropical diseases is challenging initially because the symptoms overlap with many other diseases, including malaria.

Explain the potential impact of Ebola virus on the liver and the factors influencing the mortality rate during an outbreak.

Ebola virus causes major problems in the liver, leading to the killing of liver cells and disrupting normal blood clotting events. Factors influencing the mortality rate during an outbreak include access to treatment, the initial health state of those infected, viral load, and age.

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