A Cross-Sectional Study On The Viral Etiology Of Acute Hepatitis In Children

Abstract

Background: Acute viral hepatitis is also considered a significant cause of morbidity in children especially in developing countries, where contaminated water, poor sanitation and inconsistent availability of preventive health care facilities are major factors in the continuation of transmission. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are significant contributors to acute hepatitis, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can play a role in the disease burden.

Objective: To determine the frequency of different viral etiologies of acute hepatitis among children presenting to a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, MTI Hayatabad Medical Complex/Khyber Girls Medical College, Peshawar, from October 2025 to April 2026. All 292 children with acute viral hepatitis aged 1–15 years were recruited using non-probability consecutive sampling. Children with chronic liver disease and those with drug-induced hepatitis were not included. Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) was used for HAV IgM, HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HEV IgM testing to determine viral etiology. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0, with p-value ≤0.05 as a statistically significant value.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 7.64 ± 3.78 years, and 168 (57.5%) were males. HAV was the most frequently identified viral etiology, accounting for 181 (62.0%) cases, followed by HEV in 48 (16.4%), HBV in 25 (8.6%) and HCV in 12 (4.1%). No tested viral marker was detected in 26 (8.9%) children. Viral etiology showed a significant association with age group (p<0.001) and residence (p=0.024), whereas no significant association was observed with gender (p=0.879).

Conclusion: HAV was the predominant viral cause of acute hepatitis among children, followed by HEV, whereas HBV and HCV were comparatively uncommon. The findings emphasize the continued importance of improved sanitation, safe drinking water, early recognition and preventive measures for reducing childhood viral hepatitis.