Current situation of viral hepatitis in Egypt.

An estimated 8-10 million people suffer from viral hepatitis in Egypt. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are major causes of viral hepatitis in Egypt since ≥ 50% of the Egyptian population are already exposed to HAV infection by the age of 15 years. In addition, > 60% of the Egyptian population tested seropositive for anti-HEV in the first decade of life. They mainly cause self-limiting hepatitis, however cases of fulminat hepatitis and liver failure were reported in Egypt. Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis D virus (HDV) are the main causes of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer (HCC) in Egypt. Globally, Egypt has the highest age standardized death rate due to cirrhosis from 1990 until 2017. The prevalence rate of HBV (1.3-1.5%) has declined after national infantile immunization. Coinfection of HBV patients with HDV is common in Egypt since HDV antibodies (IgG) range from 8.3% to 43% among total HBV patients. After the conduction of multiple national programs to control HCV infection, a lower rate of HCV prevalence (4.6%) was recently reported. Data about the incidence of HCV after direct antiviral agents (DAA) treatment are lacking. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence of 29/1000/year in cirrhotic patients after DAA treatment, is reported. A higher rate of infiltrative pattern among HCC patients after DAA treatment is also recognized Viral hepatitis is one of the major public health concerns in Egypt that need more attention and funding from health policymakers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.