title: SEROPREVALENCE OF HAV, HBV, HCV, AND HEV AMONG ACUTE HEPATITIS PATIENTS AT KENYATTA NATIONAL HOSPITAL IN NAIROBI, KENYA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute viral hepatitis is most frequently caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine seroprevalence of HAV, HBV, HCV and HEV among patients with acute hepatitis in Nairobi, Kenya, elucidate various risk factors for hepatitis viral infection and determine the co-infection rates with these viruses in the acute hepatitis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Across sectional descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kenyatta National Hospital, from November 2007 to April 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients were recruited by purposive sampling method and comprised of 57 males and 43 females.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the enrolled patients, twenty three tested positive for one or more markers of acute viral hepatitis, that is, HAV, HBV, HCV and HEV. No markers were detected in 77patients, 2% tested positive for IgM anti-HAV 11% for IgM anti-HBc; 3% for HBsAg; 5% for HCV RNA and 7% for IgM anti-HEV.Various risk factors associated with acute viral hepatitis were identified; poor sanitation, source of water, occupation, place of residence, level of education, household size, drug abuse and sexual behaviours. Co-infection rate with hepatitis Viruses was at 4%, IgM anti-HAV and IgM anti-HEV 1% (n=1); IgM anti-HBc and IgM anti-HEV 1% (n=1); IgM anti-HBc and anti-HCV 2% (n=2). Three patients were positive for HBsAg; among this two were negative for IgM anti-HBc and this accounted for HBV carriage (2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatitis viruses'infections are commoncause of hepatitis among patients with acute hepatitis at Kenyatta National Hospital. Co-infection with these viruses was also identified among these patients.
authors: Medical Virology, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P. O. Box 593, Ruiru, F. A. Okoth, Kenya.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Muchiri
authors: F A
authors: FA
authors: Okoth
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ngaira
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Tuei
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D060085:Coinfection; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult