Which one of the following is infectious Hepatitis?

RRB Staff Nurse Kolkata-2015

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: RRB Staff Nurse Kolkata-2015

Explanation

Hepatitis A is the correct answer as it was formerly and is still commonly known as 'infectious hepatitis' or 'epidemic jaundice'.
The primary mode of transmission for Hepatitis A is the fecal-oral route, through the ingestion of contaminated food and water.
This mode of transmission makes it highly contagious and prone to causing community outbreaks, hence the term 'infectious'.
Unlike Hepatitis B and C, Hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease and is typically an acute, self-limiting illness.

Option B: Hepatitis B is known as 'serum hepatitis'. Its primary transmission routes are parenteral (blood), sexual, and perinatal (mother to child), not fecal-oral.
Option C: Hepatitis C is primarily a blood-borne virus, most commonly transmitted through shared needles for intravenous drug use. It is known for its high likelihood of causing chronic infection.
Option D: Hepatitis D, or the 'delta agent', is a defective virus that cannot cause infection on its own. It requires the presence of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) to replicate.

Visual 1: Diagram: A comparative chart of Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E, detailing their mode of transmission, incubation period, potential for chronicity, and vaccine availability. This helps in quick revision and side-by-side comparison.
Visual 2: Infographic: An illustration showing the different transmission routes, such as a person drinking contaminated water for Hepatitis A (fecal-oral) versus a needlestick for Hepatitis B/C (parenteral).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification and transmission routes of viral hepatitis as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the transmission routes is fundamental for nursing practice to implement appropriate isolation precautions and patient education.
For Hepatitis A, the focus is on contact precautions and promoting hand hygiene, safe food handling, and clean water, especially in community settings.
For Hepatitis B, C, and D, the focus is on standard precautions, safe injection practices, screening of blood products, and counseling on safe sex.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'infectious Hepatitis'. This is a specific classification.
Recall the different types of viral hepatitis and their common names or classifications.
Associate 'infectious hepatitis' with Hepatitis A. This name comes from its highly contagious nature via the fecal-oral route.
Differentiate this from 'serum hepatitis' (Hepatitis B) and other blood-borne types (Hepatitis C, D), which have different transmission routes.
Evaluate the options based on this knowledge. Hep. A is the only option that fits the description of 'infectious hepatitis'.
Confirm the answer by remembering that Hepatitis A is linked to food/water-borne outbreaks, fitting the 'infectious' label.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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