Clinical and etiological profile of acute viral hepatitis.

There is a paucity of data on the incidence of sporadic viral hepatitis in Indian children. Clinical, biochemical and etiological profile of 54 patients with acute viral hepatitis was evaluated. Of these, 32 (59.25%) patients had Hepatitis A, 18 (33.33%) had NANB, 2 (3.7%) had Hepatitis B and 2 (3.7%) concurrent Hepatitis A and B infection. It was not possible to distinguish the etiological agents on the basis of the clinical and biochemical profile. Fulminant hepatitis was documented in 8 (14.8%) cases. Children with NANB infection were at a greater risk (p less than 0.05) of developing fulminant hepatitis as compared to Hepatitis A infection.