Viral hepatitis E, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects

The WHO estimates that 20 million people are infected with the hepatitis E virus every year, making it a worldwide public health problem. Infection with this virus is a clinically under-diagnosed cause of acute and chronic hepatitis. Although progress has been made in understanding the epidemiology, transmission routes, pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnosis and clinical manifestations of hepatitis E, significant gaps remain. There is still a great deal of uncertainty as to the factors influencing the transition from an acute to a chronic form, the long-term prognosis of this form, and the actual efficacy of current therapeutic options. In-depth research is imperative to optimize the prevention and clinical management of this specific form of viral hepatitis, the real impact of which may be vastly underestimated in many contexts.