Acute viral E hepatitis in Muscat

ABSTRACT

Patient demographics,-clinical presentation, liver function tests and serological confirmatory investigations of 4 cases of acute viral E hepatitis seen in Muscat are detailed. In all 4 patients, the request for antibodies to Hepatitis E Virus [HEV] was not from clinicians but from Al Nahdha Laboratory. The need to entertain the diagnosis of Hepatitis E and ask for antibodies to HEV in all clinically and biochemically [liver function tests] suggestive cases of acute viral hepatitis, especially in patients with a history of recent travel abroad to endemic areas, is stressed. Such an approach would possibly unearth more cases of acute viral E hepatitis in the country. Occurrence of hepatitis E in Muscat could be of public health importance and needs to be investigated further in other regions of the Sultanate of Oman