Hepatitis agents with enteric transmission -: An epidemiological analysis

Background: Viral hepatitis is characterized by special clinical, biochemical and serological findings. This study was planned to determine the seroprevalence, epidemiological characteristics and clinical and biochemical findings of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections during an outbreak of jaundice. Materials and Methods: 340 children aged 5-16 years were included. Clinical findings and atanine aminotransferase (ALT) Levels were documented. Anti-HAV IgG and IgM in addition to anti-HEV IgG and IgM were determined by microELISA. Results: Clinical findings, high Levels of ALT, anti-HAV IgM and IgG, anti-HEV IgM and IgG were present in 6%, 23%, 17%, 100%, 7% and 9% of cases, respectively. The relationship between ALT Levels and anti-HAV or anti-HEV IgM seropositivity was significant (p less than or equal to 0.0001). Conctusion: HAV and HEV infection were both caused by a contaminated water supply.