Hepatitis E

What is Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E is a liver infection. It usually goes away without causing any long-term health problems. Sometimes it can cause liver damage.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

  • Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
  • Do not take medicines that have acetaminophen in them unless your doctor tells you to take them. Ask your doctor for a list of medicines that you should not take.

Eating and drinking

  • Do not eat raw or undercooked meat or shellfish.
  • Do not drink alcohol.
  • Eat less salt (sodium). This helps keep your liver healthy.
  • Follow instructions from your doctor about other things that you should not eat or drink.

Preventing infection

  • When you travel to places where hepatitis E is common, avoid:
    • Tap water.
    • Ice cubes made from tap water.
    • Food that is raw or undercooked.
  • Do not drink water that might have germs in it (be contaminated). You can drink bottled water.
  • Do not eat fruits or vegetables that were washed with water that might have germs in it. If you are not sure that they were washed with clean water, use bottled water to wash them.
  • Do not eat raw or undercooked meat or shellfish that might have germs in it.

General instructions

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water. If you do not have soap and water, use hand sanitizer. Make sure to wash your hands:
    • After you use the toilet.
    • Before and after you cook.
    • Before and after you eat.
  • Return to your normal activities as told by your doctor. Ask what activities are safe for you.
  • Use condoms every time you have sex. Make sure that you know how to use them the right way.
  • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

Contact a doctor if:

  • You develop a fever.
  • You feel sick to your stomach (nauseous).
  • You throw up (vomit).

Get help right away if:

  • You cannot eat or drink.
  • You feel very confused.
  • You get very sleepy.
  • You have trouble waking up.
  • You have:
    • Itchy skin.
    • Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
    • Swelling in your legs.
    • More bleeding or bruising than normal.
    • Trouble thinking clearly.
    • Trouble sleeping.

Summary

  • Hepatitis E is a liver infection.
  • Usually, this illness goes away without causing any long-lasting health problems. Sometimes it can cause liver damage.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water. If you do not have soap and water, use hand sanitizer.
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