Etiological Factors of Acute Hepatitis in Children
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i7.3001Keywords:
Acute hepatitis; Child; Hepatitis A virus; Liver diseases; Toxic liver injuryAbstract
occur due to different infectious and non-infectious causes. Pattern of these causes may vary according to region and environmental conditions. Objective: To determine the etiological factors of acute hepatitis in children presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Duration and Place of Study: This study was conducted from 12 February 2025 to 12 May 2025 in the Department of Pediatrics, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Methodology: A total of 118 children aged 1 to 12 years with acute hepatitis were included. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26. Mean and standard deviation were calculated for quantitative variables. Frequency and percentage were calculated for categorical variables. Chi square test and Fisher exact test were applied after stratification and p ≤0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Mean age was 5.97±3.49 years and mean weight was 20.66±8.71 kilograms. Toxin induced hepatitis was most common cause seen in 71 (60.20%) patients, followed by infectious diseases 24 (20.30%), metabolic diseases 12 (10.20%) and immune diseases 11 (9.30%). No significant association was found between etiological factors and demographic variables (p >0.05). Conclusion: Toxin exposure was the leading cause of acute hepatitis in children in this setting, followed by infections and metabolic disorders.
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