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Hepatitis A Prognosis — SCE Infectious Diseases MCQ

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EasyTravel Medicine & VaccinationHepatitis A PrognosisSCE Infectious Diseases

A 25-year-old man with well-controlled HIV on ART presents with a new positive hepatitis A IgM after travelling to North Africa. He reports eating street food. He is jaundiced with ALT 1,500 U/L. What long-term complication does hepatitis A cause?

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Correct answer: B — None — HAV does not cause chronic infection; full recovery with lifelong immunity is expected

Hepatitis A is an acute self-limiting infection that never progresses to chronicity, regardless of the patient's immune status. Full recovery with lifelong immunity is expected. There is no chronic carrier state. HAV can rarely cause fulminant hepatic failure (<0.5% in adults, higher in those with pre-existing liver disease). No antiviral treatment exists. This case reinforces the importance of HAV vaccination for PLWH travelling to endemic areas.

Reference: NICE CKS 2024 – Hepatitis A; BHIVA 2024 – Vaccination guidelines