Spectrum of acute viral hepatitis and its clinical outcome--a study from Ludhiana, Punjab.

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.