RESUMO
Investigations were conducted for serological evidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections in children suffering from acute viral hepatitis. A total of 52 serum samples were analysed by enzyme immunoassay. Of these, 18 (24%) were positive for hepatitis B virus markers and 34 (65.4%) were negative. Delta virus infection was detected in 6/18 (33%) hepatitis B patients. A significant finding was, that of the 34 patients negative for hepatitis B, 4 (12%) were positive only for HDV although the latter can only occur as a coexistent infection with hepatitis B virus. From the present study it may be inferred that delta virus infection is prevalent in children and absence of HBV markers does not rule out hepatitis D.
Assuntos
Adolescente , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Hepatite D/epidemiologia , Hepatite Viral Humana/epidemiologia , Humanos , Técnicas Imunoenzimáticas , Índia/epidemiologia , Lactente , Masculino , Prevalência , Estudos SoroepidemiológicosRESUMO
172 sera were tested for serological markers of hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and hepatitis D to define the aetiology of acute viral hepatitis by Enzyme immunoassays. The viral aetiology could be decided in 60.5% (104/ 172) of patients. Hepatitis B infection was present in 34.9%, hepatitis A in 10.5%, hepatitis C in 9.3% and hepatitis D in 5.8% of cases. Delta hepatitis associated with HBsAg positive hepatitis was detected in 10% (6/60) of the patients. The aetiology remained undecided in 39.5% of patients.