title: Delta-hepatitis.
abstract: Investigations were conducted for serological evidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections in children suffering from acute viral hepatitis. A total of 52 serum samples were analysed by enzyme immunoassay. Of these, 18 (24%) were positive for hepatitis B virus markers and 34 (65.4%) were negative. Delta virus infection was detected in 6/18 (33%) hepatitis B patients. A significant finding was, that of the 34 patients negative for hepatitis B, 4 (12%) were positive only for HDV although the latter can only occur as a coexistent infection with hepatitis B virus. From the present study it may be inferred that delta virus infection is prevalent in children and absence of HBV markers does not rule out hepatitis D.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Ghuman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies