Frequency of hepatitis a in patients with acute hepatitis in abbottabad

ABSTRACT

To investigate the frequency of hepatitis [A] in patients with acute hepatitis. Retrospective study. This study was carried out at Shahina Jamil Teaching Hospital Abbottabad from March 2006 to February 2008. The study included all acute hepatitis patients who visited the ShahinaJamil Hospital Abbottabad. Various viral markers were used to establish the diagnosis of acute hepatitis that included anti HAV IgM, HBsAg, anti HCV and anti HEV IgM. Liver function tests were also done. A total of 125 patients with acute hepatitis visited the out patient department of S.J. Hospital Abbottabad during the study period. The specific etiologic diagnosis could be made in 88 [70.4%] patients. Hepatitis [A] was found in 33[26.4%], HBV in 19[15.2%], HCV in 6[4.8%], and HEV in 30[24.0% patients. The mean age of the patients with HAV infection was significantly younger than patients with HBV,HCV and HEV. The present study showed that hepatitis A is one of the common type of viral hepatitis and can be controlled easily with improving sanitation and water distribution and personal hygiene