ABSTRACT
This study included 361 patients who were admitted with clinical manifestations and laboratory results of acute virus hepatitis. It was carried out in King Faisal Hospital, Makkah, the only center for infectious disease there. The results revealed that the hepatitis A is the most common cause of acute hepatitis [74.5%], and the male were affected more than females [56.5%, 43.5%]. Both acute hepatitis and hepatitis E have high prevalence rate below the age of 12 years. Hepatitis E virus plays a minor role [11.3%] as a cause of acute hepatitis in Makkah and most of the cases were coming from low standard area where poor sanitary disposal of excreta. So, improvement in water supplies, sewage disposal and hygiene should be effective in lowering HEV incidence