Original Article

Clinical Manifestation of Apparent Acute Hepatitis A

Hye Kyung Jung, Min Gyeu Hwang, Hye Young Son, Sun Young Yi
Author Information & Copyright
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Korea.

Copyright ⓒ 1999. Ewha Womans University School of Medicine. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Published Online: Mar 30, 1999

Abstract

Objectives

The apparent acute hepatitis A was occuring among adolescene and young adults during last several years. So here we present the clinical manifestations and laboratory finding and risk factors of 72 patients with acute hepatitis A who were referred to our community hospital.

Methods

Seventy-two Patients, 6 to 40 years of age(mean ; 22±8 years) with hepatitis A identified by testing their sera for IgM anti-HAV antibody. Medical records for patients with HAV infection were retrospectively reviewed for symptoms, signs, and laboratory values.

Results

The prevalence of hepatitis A have been increased recently, especially during last 2 years. The probable exposures to HAV included food- or waterborne source, household, foreign travel, day care centers. The clinical symptoms are not distinguishable from hepatitis due to other agents. The mean laboratory tests included total bilirubin 6.0mg/dl, AST/ALT 1064.0±1123.4mIU/mL, 1561.7±1203.0mIU/ml, respectively. All 72 patients experienced complete clinical and biochemical recovery within 6 months after onset of illness.

Conclusion

Abrupt increase of hepatitis A was occuring among the adolescents and young adults recently. Improved sanitation has brought our countries shifting a nearly universal asymptomatic infection in children to a less common but more significant disease expression in adults.

Keywords: Hepatitis A; Clinical manifestation