Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 27, 2025
A Cell Culture Model for Producing High Titer Hepatitis E Virus Stocks
Published on: June 26, 2020
The Clinical Profile of Children With Hepatitis A Infection: An Observational Hospital-Based Study
Sharanya Murlidharan1, Avinash L Sangle1, Madhuri Engade1
1Pediatrics, Mahatma Gandhi Mission (MGM) Medical College and Hospital, Aurangabad, IND.
Insights
Hepatitis A predominantly affects children under 10, with fever and jaundice being common symptoms. Most cases occur during the monsoon season, highlighting the need for awareness and prevention strategies for this viral hepatitis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Hepatology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hepatitis A is a common viral hepatitis, particularly in pediatric populations.
- Evolving epidemiology necessitates updated data on childhood Hepatitis A clinical presentation and outcomes.
- This study focuses on children in Western India.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical and biochemical profile of children diagnosed with Hepatitis A.
- To analyze epidemiological factors associated with Hepatitis A in children.
- To understand the disease presentation in a tertiary care setting.
Main Methods:
- Study included 100 children (1-18 years) with Hepatitis A symptoms.
- Serological confirmation of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection using IgM antibodies.
- Data collected on clinical features, demographics, water source, socioeconomic status, season, and biochemical parameters.
Main Results:
- The majority of patients (45%) were aged 1-5 years.
- Common symptoms included fever (96%), abdominal pain (78%), and dark urine (65%).
- Icterus (80%) and hepatomegaly (74%) were prevalent; peak incidence occurred in August, coinciding with the monsoon season.
Conclusions:
- Hepatitis A in children is often seen in those 10 years or younger.
- Key clinical indicators are fever, abdominal pain, dark urine, vomiting, and anorexia.
- Increased incidence during monsoon season and lower socioeconomic status are significant factors.
Introduction:
Hepatitis A is a frequent form of hepatitis, especially in children. The changing epidemiology of the disease signifies the need for descriptive data concerning the clinical presentation and outcome of hepatitis A in children. The present study describes the clinical and biochemical profile of children with hepatitis A infection from a tertiary care center in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra in Western India.
Methods:
One hundred patients between one and 18 years of age, presenting with symptoms/signs such as nausea, anorexia, vomiting, jaundice, abdominal pain, tender hepatomegaly, bleeding manifestations, or encephalopathy, were enrolled for the study. Serologically confirmed cases by detecting immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies against hepatitis A virus (HAV) were enrolled in the study. A detailed case proforma noted the clinical features and details such as age, gender, area, water supply, socioeconomic status, season, and biochemical parameters.
Results:
Most patients (45%) were among the age group of one to five years. Fever was reported in 96 (96%) patients, abdominal pain in 78 (78%) patients, dark-colored urine in 65 (65%) patients, vomiting in 47 (47%) patients, and anorexia in 63 (63%) patients. Icterus was found in 80 (80%) patients and hepatomegaly in 74 (74%) patients. In 61 (61%) patients, serum total bilirubin level on the first day was 1-4 mg/dL. Sixty-five (65%) patients were using tap water as the water source, and the maximum number of patients (43%) came in August. Most patients belonged to the class IV group (61%) as per the modified Kuppuswamy classification.
Conclusions:
Most patients were 10 years or below, presenting predominantly with fever, abdominal pain, dark-colored urine, vomiting, and anorexia. Icterus and hepatomegaly were found in three-fourths or more of the patients. Around monsoon (June to September), there was the highest frequency of cases, and the socioeconomic status of most of the patients was within lower or upper-lower categories.
