Seroprevalence of Hepatitis a and E Viruses in Patients Presenting With Acute Hepatitis at a Tertiary Care Hospital From Mumbai.

Background: Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E virus (HAV & HEV) are most common causes of acute viral hepatitis occurring sporadically as well in outbreaks and still remains a major public health problem in India. HAV and HEV infections being clinically indistinguishable and with variable outcome, it is important to diagnose these infections early. Hence the present study was undertaken to know the prevalence of HAV, HEV and their coinfection in patients presenting with acute hepatitis. A retrospective analysis of data was done Methods: from sera samples received for IgM HAV and IgM HEV in Department of Microbiology of a tertiary care Hospital, Mumbai for one year. The study included 1955 sera samples from all age group from suspected cases of Acute viral hepatitis were tested for IgM anti HAV and IgM anti HEV by commercially available ELISA kits (CTK Biotech, USA). The prevalence of HAV was found to be 3% whereas that of HEV was 21.7%. Co-infe Results: ction with HAV-HEV was seen in only 6 (0.3%) cases. Higher prevalence of HAV was seen in adults than children. Among HEV positive females, 28.4% were ANC. Conclusion: The prevalence of HEV was seen more than HAV. The prevalence of HAV as well as HEV was more in adults as compared to children. Therefore improvement of sanitation and hygeine should be stepped up in the population where the prevalence of hepatis is high.