title: Spectrum of Acute Viral Hepatitis in Southern India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of hepatitis-A among adults in India is on the decline as majority develops protective immunity to it by late adolescence. Most of these studies are from northern India. Clinical spectrum of sporadic acute viral hepatitis from southern India has not been well documented.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective hospital based study was conducted in a large military hospital in southern India. 224 consecutive patients with acute viral hepatitis were studied for their presentation, etiology and clinical features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hepatitis-E was detected in 102 (45.4%), hepatitis A in 74 (33%) and hepatitis B in 28 (12.5%) patients. Acute hepatitis C was detected in two patients. 15 patients had a mixed infection. Hepatitis A constituted 41.2% and 31.3% of all cases in the age groups 11-20 and 21-30 years respectively. Cholestasis was present in 68 (30.4%) patients with hepatitis E accounting for most (61.8%) cases. There were four (1.8%) cases of acute liver failure. Two cases were due to hepatitis E and one case each was due to hepatitis A and hepatitis B. A relapsing course was seen in four cases due to hepatitis-A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatitis A remains a significant cause of sporadic acute viral hepatitis in young adults in southern India.
authors.affiliation: Senior Advisor (Medicine and Gastroenterology) Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi Cantt.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nandi
authors.affiliation: Graded Specialist (Medicine), 164 MH, C/o 99APO.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hadimani
authors.affiliation: Senior Advisor (Medicine), Command Hospital (SC), Pune.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arunachalam
authors.affiliation: Commandant, Command Hospital Air Force, Bangalore.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Ganjoo
keywords: Hepatitis A; Viral hepatitis