Información del artículo
Resumen
La hepatitis E, causada por el virus de la hepatitis E (VHE), representa un problema emergente de salud pública mundial, constituyendo una de las principales causas de hepatitis vírica aguda. Ha sido considerada desde su primera descripción como una enfermedad con un patrón epidemiológico vinculado al consumo de aguas y alimentos contaminados y con una prevalencia superior en zonas geográficas con condiciones sociosanitarias deficientes. Según estimaciones de la OMS, alrededor de 2.000 millones de personas, lo que representa la cuarta parte de la población mundial, viven en zonas endémicas para el VHE y, por lo tanto, están en riesgo de infección. La mejora en las técnicas de diagnóstico ha aportado los datos necesarios para demostrar que en los países desarrollados la infección por el VHE es frecuente, tiene carácter autóctono y un patrón epidemiológico distinto, asociándose al contacto con animales domésticos, especialmente el cerdo. Otro aspecto interesante es que el VHE puede producir hepatitis crónicas en trasplantados e inmunodeprimidos.
Palabras clave:
Hepatitis E
Virus de la hepatitis E
VHE
Zoonosis
Diagnóstico
Epidemiología
Tratamiento
Vacuna
Abstract
Hepatitis E, caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV), represents an emerging global public health problem, constituting one of the main causes of acute viral hepatitis. Since its first description, it has been considered a disease with an epidemiological pattern linked to the consumption of contaminated water and food, and with a higher prevalence in geographical areas with poor socio-sanitary conditions. According to WHO estimates, around 2 billion people, representing a quarter of the world's population, live in areas where HEV is endemic and are therefore at risk of infection. Improvements in diagnostic techniques have provided the data necessary to demonstrate that in developed countries, HEV infection is common, indigenous and has a different epidemiological pattern, associated with contact with domestic animals, especially pigs. Another interesting aspect is that HEV can cause chronic hepatitis in transplant and immunocompromised patients.
Keywords:
Hepatitis E
Hepatitis E virus
HEV
Zoonosis
Diagnosis
Epidemiology
Treatment
Vaccine
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