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Global Epidemiology of Acute Viral Hepatitis A–E

  • Hubert E. BlumEmail author
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Abstract

Worldwide, viral hepatitides are caused by five well-characterized hepatotropic viruses: hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis delta virus (HDV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV). Their epidemiology as well as their pathogenesis have been studied in great detail. Further, the structure and genetic organization of their DNA or RNA genome including the viral life cycle have been elucidated. These discoveries have been successfully translated into important clinical applications, such as the specific diagnosis, therapy, and prevention of the associated liver diseases, including acute or fulminant hepatitis, as well as the long-term sequelae of chronic hepatitis, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

The prevalence of viral hepatitis A–E shows distinct geographic differences. The global burden of these infections (prevalence, incidence, cause-specific death, disability-adjusted life years, and years of life lost) has recently been analyzed in seminal studies. During the coming decade(s) we expect to further improve our ability to prevent and to effectively treat viral hepatitis A–E, resulting in the control or even elimination of these global infections and of their associated morbidities and mortalities.

Keywords

Viral hepatitis Hepatitis A virus Hepatitis B virus Hepatitis C virus Hepatitis D virus Hepatitis E virus 
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© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.University Hospital FreiburgFreiburg im BreisgauGermany

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