RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Acute viral hepatitis is most frequently caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV). OBJECTIVES: To determine seroprevalence of HAV, HBV, HCV and HEV among patients with acute hepatitis in Nairobi, Kenya, elucidate various risk factors for hepatitis viral infection and determine the co-infection rates with these viruses in the acute hepatitis patients. DESIGN: Across sectional descriptive study. SETTING: Kenyatta National Hospital, from November 2007 to April 2008. SUBJECTS: One hundred patients were recruited by purposive sampling method and comprised of 57 males and 43 females. RESULTS: Among the enrolled patients, twenty three tested positive for one or more markers of acute viral hepatitis, that is, HAV, HBV, HCV and HEV. No markers were detected in 77patients, 2% tested positive for IgM anti-HAV 11% for IgM anti-HBc; 3% for HBsAg; 5% for HCV RNA and 7% for IgM anti-HEV.Various risk factors associated with acute viral hepatitis were identified; poor sanitation, source of water, occupation, place of residence, level of education, household size, drug abuse and sexual behaviours. Co-infection rate with hepatitis Viruses was at 4%, IgM anti-HAV and IgM anti-HEV 1% (n=1); IgM anti-HBc and IgM anti-HEV 1% (n=1); IgM anti-HBc and anti-HCV 2% (n=2). Three patients were positive for HBsAg; among this two were negative for IgM anti-HBc and this accounted for HBV carriage (2%). CONCLUSION: Hepatitis viruses'infections are commoncause of hepatitis among patients with acute hepatitis at Kenyatta National Hospital. Co-infection with these viruses was also identified among these patients.