FREQUENCY, ETIOLOGY AND CLINICAL PROFILE OF PATIENT WITH ACUTE VIRAL HEPATITIS AT TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: To determine the frequency, etiology and clinical profile of patient with acute viral hepatitis at tertiary care hospital. Patients and Methods: This study of cross sectional type was conducted at tertiary care hospital and included patients of ≥11 years of age, either gender with clinical and biochemical profile suggestive of acute hepatitis, at least one positive serological viral marker and ultrasound abdomen shown no evidence of intra as well as extra hepatic biliary obstruction. The following serological tests were also advised for correct etiological diagnosis anti-HAV (IgM) by ELISA, anti-HEV (IgM) by ELISA, HBsAg by ELISA and anti -HCV by ELISA. Those subjects who were identified as HBsAg positive were further explored by IgM anti HBc to detect acute HBV infection while the data was collected on pre-designed proforma and analyzed in SPSS 16. The frequency and percentages was calculated while the numerical statistics were used to compute mean ±SD. Results: Total fifty patients with acute viral hepatitis of different etiologies were detected during six months study period, majority of the patients were males 35 (70%) and from rural population 38 (76%). The mean ±SD for age and duration of disease for whole population was 23.82±8.86 and 3.92±1.32. Though isolated viral hepatitis A (52%) and C (14%) has been found to be the commonest cause of acute viral hepatitis while the hepatitis B occupied 12% whereas co-infection were also observed as hepatitis A and E (6%), hepatitis B and D (6%) and hepatitis B and C (10%) respectively. Conclusion: The viral hepatitis are commonly and frequently observed in tertiary care hospital of developing countries with hepatitis A will be the identified as the most common etiological factor. Key words: Hepatitis, Viral hepatitis, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, Hepatitis E and Viral hepatitis Coinfection.