Okoth F A
Virus Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
East Afr Med J. 1996 May;73(5):308-12.
The list of hepatitis viruses is increasing over the years. Now the viruses range from A to G. Hepatitis A virus is a short incubation RNA virus which is transmitted oro-faecally. It does not cause chronic illness but may be fatal in a few cases especially in pregnancy. It can now be prevented by vaccination. Hepatitis B virus is a long incubation DNA virus which is transmitted mainly through blood and blood products. It causes chronic illness and can lead to liver cancer in some cases. It can be prevented by vaccination and WHO is now recommending global vaccination of all infants irrespective of endemicity of hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis C virus is an RNA virus which used to be known as parenterally transmitted non A non-B virus. It leads to chronic illness and can lead to liver cancer. It is now responsible for most cases of post transfusion hepatitis in Europe, North America and Asia. Hepatitis Delta virus is a defective virus which requires hepatitis B virus for its existence. Thus it affects only those who have hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis E virus used to be known as the enterically transmitted non-A non-B virus. It is transmitted oro-faecally and seems not to lead to chronic illness. It is endemic in some areas like Middle East and parts of Africa. Hepatitis G virus is just being described. More information about it will soon be available.
多年来，肝炎病毒的种类不断增加。如今，病毒种类已从A类到G类。甲型肝炎病毒是一种潜伏期短的RNA病毒，通过口粪途径传播。它不会导致慢性病，但在少数情况下可能致命，尤其是在妊娠期。现在可以通过接种疫苗预防。乙型肝炎病毒是一种潜伏期长的DNA病毒，主要通过血液和血液制品传播。它会导致慢性病，在某些情况下可能引发肝癌。可以通过接种疫苗预防，世界卫生组织现建议对所有婴儿进行全球接种，无论乙型肝炎病毒的流行情况如何。丙型肝炎病毒是一种RNA病毒，过去被称为肠道外传播的非甲非乙型病毒。它会导致慢性病，并可能引发肝癌。目前，在欧洲、北美和亚洲，它是大多数输血后肝炎病例的病因。丁型肝炎病毒是一种缺陷病毒，其生存需要乙型肝炎病毒。因此，它只影响感染了乙型肝炎病毒的人。戊型肝炎病毒过去被称为肠道传播的非甲非乙型病毒。它通过口粪途径传播，似乎不会导致慢性病。在中东和非洲部分地区等一些地区流行。庚型肝炎病毒刚刚被描述。关于它的更多信息将很快公布。
