Prevalence of acute hepatitis a after HBV mass vaccination and spread of outdoor eating in Cairo

ABSTRACT

A group of 284 patients from Cairo, Egypt, with acute hepatitis were studied in Abbassia Fever Hospital, from June 2001 to September 2002. The aim of this work was to study the prevalence of HAV and HBV in acute hepatitis patients to detect the effect of anti HBV mass vaccination and the increase of outdoor eating in last years on their spread and infection. Of 284 patients, 104 [36.6%] were children [1-14 years], 180 [63.4%] were adolescents and adults [more than 14 years] and all children with age 1-9 years [76 children] have received a full dose of anti-HBV vaccine. Acute hepatitis A was diagnosed in 115 [40.5%] patients, 85 [81.7%] in children and 30 [16.7%] in adolescents and adults. Acute hepatitis B [positive HBc-1gM] was diagnosed in 41 [14.4%] patients, ohe [0.96%] in children and 40 [22.2%] in adolescents and adults. Forty-eight patients [16.9%] have HBs Ag only, 5 [4.8%] in children and 43 [23.9%] in adolescents and adults. The remaining 80 patients [28.2%] were considered to have hepatitis non-A, non-B. Clinically, acute hepatitis in children was significantly associated with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain. fever and hepatomegaly, while in adolescent and adults was significantly associated with malaise only. Outdoor eating was significantly associated with acute hepatitis A in adolescent and adults. Acute hepatitis B in vaccinated children was very low [1.3%] and also HBs Ag carriers in this group [2.6%] indicating good efficacy of anti-HBV mass vaccination