Clinical-biochemical profile and etiology of acute viral hepatitis in hospitalized young adults at tertiary care center

BACKGROUND: Acute viral hepatitis (AVH) is a major health concern in developing nations like India in regard to morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To identify incidence, clinical presentation, laboratory abnormalities, severity, and complication of AVH in young adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted from August 2016 to August 2018 among 70 young adult patients of AVH at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad. Data on clinical presentation, laboratory values, complication, and severity were obtained, and analysis was performed. RESULTS: Hepatitis E viral (HEV) infection was seen in 70% case and was more common in age group of 21–30 years followed by Hepatitis B and Hepatitis A, 15.8% and 12.8% case respectively. Most common presenting symptom was jaundice in 80–85% of patients followed by anorexia 65.7% and nausea and vomiting 57.1% of patients. Most common clinical sign was icterus followed by hepatomegaly. Total serum bilirubin and serum SGOT elevated in all cases. Acute liver failure was seen in seven cases. Six cases were due to hepatitis E and one case was due to hepatitis A. Acute kidney injury was present in seven cases. Coagulopathy was found to be major complication in 25.7% cases. CONCLUSION: HEV is the major etiological agent of AVH in young adults. It is not possible to differentiate viral hepatitis based on clinical features and biochemical parameters. However, cholestasis is found to be significantly associated with hepatitis-E infection.