title: Spectrum of acute viral hepatitis and its clinical outcome--a study from Ludhiana, Punjab.
abstract: This study was carried out to find the etiological spectrum and clinical profile of acute viral hepatitis in Ludhiana. Hepatitis E was encountered most frequently (44.56%) followed by hepatitis B (29.7%), whereas hepatitis D occurred least frequently (0.99%). The age group most commonly affected was 20-30 years(32,67%) followed by 30-40 years (23.76%). Males showed higher incidence as compared to females in the ratio of 62.4:37.6. The most frequent clinical features were anorexia and jaundice. The disease was found to be more common in urban set up(78.2%) than in rural regions (21.8%). Mortality was mainly because of fulminant hepatitic failure. In 1.98% of cases, etiology remained undecided. Total bilirubin and prothrombin time were found to be useful prognostic indicators.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged