title: Hepatitis E: source and route of infection, clinical manifestations and new developments.
abstract: Hepatitis E was previously thought to be a disease of developing countries causing significant morbidity and mortality in young adults, particularly among pregnant women and patients with pre-existing chronic liver disease. Recent studies have shown that hepatitis E is also an issue in developed countries. In this setting, hepatitis E is a zoonotic infection and causes acute infection mainly in middle-aged and elderly men; and chronic infection in the immunosuppressed. The scope and burden of disease are still emerging. The diagnosis of hepatitis E should be considered in any patient with hepatitis, irrespective of their age or travel history.
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scobie
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Dalton
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D015047:Zoonoses