Comparative study between icteric and non-icteric hepatitis A among pediatric patients admitted to Babylon Maternity Hospital, Iraq

Objective Acute infections of viral hepatitis are considered as serious health threats of the populations around the world. There are diverse forms of the infections that exhibit wide range of epidemiology and natural histories. Viral hepatitis A is the most public and common viral hepatitis throughout the childhood period, particularly in the developing countries. Methods A cross-sectional sampling of (145) child who admitted into out-patients treatment center in Babylon Maternity Hospital. For each person, different demographic parameters, were obtained. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies specific for hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) were obtained in patients' sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Seroprevalence of HAV was 100% among the tested children, with a wide range of presentation mainly as fever, hepatomegaly, choluria and jaundice, while non-jaundiced are 31%. Chi-square analysis of demographic parameters showed a high significant difference with age, residence, family history and personal hygiene among jaundiced and non-jaundiced pediatric patients (P value = 0.0001) and a significant difference with nutritional status (P = 0.03), while no difference with socioeconomic status and chronic drugs usage (P = 0.054 and 0.559) respectively and with no gender differences. Conclusion Hepatitis A viral infection continues to be a major health problem in developing countries and it is a hyper-endemic in Iraq.