Lucia Bradanini1, Daniel Youkee2, Paolo Fabris1, Luisa Romanò3, Enrico Brunetti4, Maria Teresa Giordani1. 1. Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy. 2. King's Centre for Global Health, King's College London, London, UK. Electronic address: daniel.youkee@kcl.ac.uk. 3. Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy. 4. Department of Infectious Diseases, San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiological and clinical features of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) infection in a migrant population. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review, identifying a cohort of 21 symptomatic patients of migrant origin with confirmed HEV infection admitted in the period between January 1995-November 2014. RESULTS: 20 (95%) patients came from South Asian countries highly endemic for HEV, all positive for HEV genotype 1. Recent travel to a highly endemic country was the most consistent risk factor identified in 90% of cases, duration from return to Italy to hospitalization ranged from 10 to 120 days. Nausea and vomiting (100%), jaundice (95.2%), and anorexia (85.7%) were the most common reported symptoms. Fever was present in 57.1% of cases. Transaminase values were elevated in all patients and serum bilirubin was raised in 86% of patients. We found no statistically significant differences between clinical symptoms, laboratory results or duration of hospitalization in patients with co-morbidities compared to those without. We also report a secondary case of HEV genotype 1 transmitted within Italy. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the epidemiological risk factors and clinical features of HEV infection in a migrant population in Italy and should stimulate further research regarding the prevalence and morbidity of HEV within migrant populations in Europe.
OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiological and clinical features of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) infection in a migrant population. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review, identifying a cohort of 21 symptomatic patients of migrant origin with confirmed HEV infection admitted in the period between January 1995-November 2014. RESULTS: 20 (95%) patients came from South Asian countries highly endemic for HEV, all positive for HEV genotype 1. Recent travel to a highly endemic country was the most consistent risk factor identified in 90% of cases, duration from return to Italy to hospitalization ranged from 10 to 120 days. Nausea and vomiting (100%), jaundice (95.2%), and anorexia (85.7%) were the most common reported symptoms. Fever was present in 57.1% of cases. Transaminase values were elevated in all patients and serum bilirubin was raised in 86% of patients. We found no statistically significant differences between clinical symptoms, laboratory results or duration of hospitalization in patients with co-morbidities compared to those without. We also report a secondary case of HEV genotype 1 transmitted within Italy. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the epidemiological risk factors and clinical features of HEV infection in a migrant population in Italy and should stimulate further research regarding the prevalence and morbidity of HEV within migrant populations in Europe.
Authors: Enas S Al Absi; Duaa W Al-Sadeq; Makiyeh Khalili; Nadin Younes; Nader Al-Dewik; Sara K Abdelghany; Somaia S Abouzid; Asma A Al Thani; Hadi M Yassine; Peter V Coyle; Gheyath K Nasrallah Journal: BMC Gastroenterol Date: 2021-06-15 Impact factor: 3.067