Hepatitis A Virus-related Pediatric Liver Disease Burden and its Significance in the Indian Subcontinent

Abstract

Objective: To study the Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection-related pediatric liver disease burden.

Methods: Hospital records of 431 children (age <18 y) diagnosed to be suffering from acute HAV infection during 2011 to 2018 were extracted and analyzed. Additionally, a seroprevalence study was done on 2599 participants (696 children and 1903 adults).

Results: HAV infection accounted for about half (48.6% of acute hepatitis and 46.5% (92/198) of acute liver failure cases) of all acute onset icteric illness, with significant morbidity and mortality. As per seroprevalence data, 16.2% of children between 10-18 years of age, and 10.3% of adults aged 18-30 years remained susceptible to HAV infection.

Conclusions: HAV infection is the major contributor the overall pediatric liver disease burden. A significant proportion of subjects remain susceptible to HAV infection even after 10 years of age. Population-based studies are required to further delineate the epidemiology of HAV infection in India for deciding introduction of HAV vaccine in the national immunization schedule.