A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF ACUTE VIRUS HEPATITIS E IN ALEXANDRIA FEVER HOSPITAL

Abstract

Acute viral hepatitis is endemic in Egypt. It represents an important problem in our community because of their high incidence and high fatality rate. There are five well characterized hepatotrophic viruses A, B, C, D and E. Also, there are a large number of viruses that may cause inflammatory disease of the liver such as cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Herpes simplex virus, mumps virus, yellow fever virus, but the term viral hepatitis generally refers to the five well described hepatotrophic viruses which are divided into enteral and parenteral groups based on their mode of transmission.

Hepatitis E virus (HEY) is a non-enveloped RNA virus, a member of calicivirdate and is an important cause of acute hepatitis. Hepatitis E is a feco­ oral disease, similar to hepatitis A. The incubation period of hepatitis E is 8-10 weeks. It has been implicated as a cause of large outbreaks of hepatitis in many tropical and developing countries. First outbreak occurred in New Delhi 1956, however it was diagnosed serologically several years later. HEY infection may be present in developed countries. Epidemics frequently develop after rainy seasons when water supplies are grossly contaminated suggesting that large doses ofHEV are needed to induce the disease. So contaminated water supplies is the common source of infection. Their spread is favored by poor personal hygiene and inappropriate sanitary conditions.

Hepatitis E may also be transmitted through parentral route. Vertical transmission and the possibility of transfusion-related HEY infection has been also considered.