A nurse is educating a group of patients about hepatitis. Which statement accurately describes chronic hepatitis?

Choice A rationale:

Leptospirosis is a non-viral cause of hepatitis. It is caused by the bacterium Leptospira and can lead to liver inflammation. Leptospirosis is typically contracted through exposure to contaminated water, soil, or urine of infected animals.

Choice B rationale:

Malaria is not a cause of hepatitis. Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes and does not directly affect the liver in the way hepatitis does.

Choice C rationale:

Acetaminophen is a non-viral cause of hepatitis when taken in excessive amounts or in cases of overdose. Acetaminophen toxicity can lead to acute liver failure and hepatitis-like symptoms.

Choice D rationale:

Autoimmune hepatitis is a non-viral cause of hepatitis. It occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the liver, leading to inflammation and liver damage. The exact cause of autoimmune hepatitis is not well understood.

Choice E rationale:

Hepatitis B is a viral cause of hepatitis and is not a non-viral cause. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and is transmitted through exposure to infected blood, sexual contact, or perinatal transmission from mother to child.

Choice A rationale:

Hepatitis C is indeed caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is a single-stranded RNA virus. The virus is classified under the Flaviviridae family and is known for its high genetic variability, leading to the development of multiple genotypes and subtypes. The RNA genome of HCV is not defective, but rather highly adaptable, making it challenging to develop effective vaccines and treatments. Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted through exposure to infected blood, sharing needles, and, less commonly, through sexual contact and from mother to child during childbirth.

Choice B rationale:

Hepatitis B (HBV) is caused by a partially double-stranded DNA virus, not a non-enveloped single-stranded RNA virus. HBV belongs to the Hepadnaviridae family, and it is transmitted through contact with infected body fluids, such as blood, semen, or vaginal fluids. HBV can cause both acute and chronic liver infections.

Choice C rationale:

Hepatitis A (HAV) is caused by an enveloped single-stranded RNA virus, not hepatitis

C. HAV is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, typically due to contaminated food or water. It is usually a self-limiting disease that does not lead to chronic liver problems.

Choice D rationale:

Hepatitis E (HEV) is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus, but it is not partially double-stranded DNA, as stated in this choice. HEV is typically transmitted through the fecal-oral route, similar to HAV, and it can cause acute hepatitis, particularly in pregnant women, but it does not require a prior hepatitis B infection for transmission.