Incidence and characteristics of hepatitis E virus infection in children in Assiut, Upper Egypt.
Objective To describe the characteristics of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in a cohort of children from Upper Egypt using data from a large multicentre prospective study of acute viral hepatitis (AVH). Methods Data from subjects aged 2-18 years with AVH or close contacts of those with AVH found to have asymptomatic AVH were included in the analysis. Information concerning medical history, clinical examination, liver function tests and screening for hepatotropic viruses was recorded and analysed. Results A total of 123 patients (73 boys, 50 girls) were included in the analysis. Of these, 33 (26.8%) had HEV infection, 17 (13.8%) had hepatitis A virus infection, 10 (8.1%) had hepatitis B virus infection, 14 (11.4%) had cytomegalovirus hepatitis, five (4.1%) had autoimmune hepatitis, 11 (8.9%) had hepatitis due to mixed viral infections and 33 (26.8%) had non A-E hepatitis. Overall, 38 (30.9%) had infection with HEV. HEV infection was significantly higher among those using underground wells as a water source compared with tap water. Liver enzymes were significantly raised in patients with non-HEV infection compared with those with HEV infection. Conclusions HEV is a significant cause of AVH among children in Upper Egypt. Contamination of drinking water appears to be a major source of infection. Screening for HEV should be considered in all Egyptian children with AVH.
1 Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.|2 Department of Paediatrics, King Khaled University Hospital and College of Medicine, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
Gamal
G
Hasan
3 Prince Abdullah Bin Khaled Coeliac Disease Research Chair, Department of Paediatrics, King Khaled University Hospital and College of Medicine, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
Asaad
A
Assiri
4 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Assiut Police Hospital, Assiut, Egypt.
Naglaa
N
Marzuuk
5 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Enas
E
Daef
6 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt.
Sayed
S
Abdelwahab
7 Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt.
Ahmed
A
Ahmed
1 Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Ismail
I
Mohamad
2 Department of Paediatrics, King Khaled University Hospital and College of Medicine, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
Ayman
A
Al-Eyadhy
2 Department of Paediatrics, King Khaled University Hospital and College of Medicine, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
Ali
A
Alhaboob
2 Department of Paediatrics, King Khaled University Hospital and College of Medicine, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
Mohamad-Hani
MH
Temsah
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000821:virology; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
D060766:Drinking Water
Children; Upper Egypt; acute viral hepatitis; hepatitis E; waterborne outbreak
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