A Study on Etiological Profile of Acute Hepatitis in Children

BACKGROUND: Acute hepatitis still remains as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the children, with a wide range of etiological factors varying from region to region. Hence its very important to study about the causative factors of the acute hepatitis in this geographical region, in order to facilitate early diagnosis and preventive measures. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study is to study about the etiological profile of acute hepatitis in Paediatric population. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective observational study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Totally 94 children in the age group of 1 to 12 years were studied. After a thorough clinical examination, they were subjected to slit lamp examination and ultrasound abdomen. Samples collected were serum samples for liver function tests, viral markers and other relevant investigations. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: We analysed the data using the SPSS(Statistical Package for Social Sciences) software RESULTS: 83 children out of 94 were found to have Viral hepatitis. Out of them, 65 children positive for Hepatitis A, 13 children had coinfection with Hepatitis A and E,3 children had Hepatitis E, Hepatitis B and C were positive in 1 child each. Of the remaining 11 cases, 2 children were diagnosed as Wilson’s disease, 1 children had drug induced hepatitis and 8 cases remained undiagnosed. CONCLUSION: Viral hepatitis remains the most common cause of acute hepatitis in children with Hepatitis A as the major causative agent. So, measures should be taken to create awareness among the public about good sanitation, hygienic food habits, boiled drinking water. Hepatitis A vaccine can be considered in the Universal Immunisation Programme.