Ruth, a 25 year office worker, decided to visit the doctor’s office after noticing changes in her body. She complained of severe nausea, vomiting, stomach pains and loss in appetite. But her biggest worries are her frequent skin itching, bloated belly and apparent yellowish pallor. After physically examining Ruth, the doctor ordered several laboratory tests. These include CBC, Coagulation studies, blood chemistry and Serologic tests. The results showed Prolonged Prothrombin time, increased INR, decreased blood proteins such as albumin, elevated liver enzymes and bilirubin levels. Her serology was reactive for the Hepatitis B surface antigen, positive for Total anti-HBc but negative for the anti-HBe and anti-HBs
Answer the following questions, using the medical information of Ruth.
1. Examine Ruth’s serological studies and answer the following:
A. What type of viral hepatitis is Ruth infected with? How did she get it?
B. Is it an acute or a chronic infection? Explain your answer
C. What other hepatitis virus can infect Ruth?
D. Why did it take long for this viral hepatitis to be detected?
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