A 27-year-old male presents with fever, gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatomegaly, and transient joint pain. He reports that as a child he received blood transfusions following a motor vehicle accident. He also indicates he was vaccinated against hepatitis B. Which of the following types of hepatitis does he most likely have?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of hepatomegaly, gastrointestinal bleeding, and a history of blood transfusions suggest chronic hepatitis. The fact that the patient was vaccinated against hepatitis B argues against chronic hepatitis B. While hepatitis A and E can cause acute hepatitis and transient joint pain, neither would typically cause both hepatomegaly and gastrointestinal bleeding, so hepatitis C is the best option. Hepatitis D only occurs in patients with underlying hepatitis B infection.

A 27-Year-Old Male Presents with Fever, Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Hepatomegaly, and Transient