Children's acute hepatitis in Casablanca

Objective - The authors' aim was to evaluate the clinical and virological a spects of acute hepatitis in children in Casablanca (Morocco). Patients and methods - A prospective study including clinical and virologic al data (transaminases, anti-HAV IgM antibodies, HBs antigen, anti-HBc IgM antibodies, anti-HCV antibodies, and anti-HEV IgG antibodies) was carried o ut on 130 acute icteric hepatitis pediatric cases between July and December 1997 in the children's hospital in Casablanca. Results - The children's ages ranged from two to 14 years. One hundred and twenty-seven children had acute hepatitis A virus infection (97.7%). The me dian age of children with acute HAV was five years, six months; cholestasis was observed in 72% of the cases. Three children died. Acute hepatitis B v irus infection was observed in three patients, and one became a chronic car rier. Conclusion - This survey shows the high prevalence of HAV in this Moroccan pediatric population and highlights the risk of fulminant hepatitis. Thus, it is important to evaluate the seroprevalence of hepatitis viruses in the Moroccan children's population. (C) 1999 Editions scientifiques et medicale s Elsevier SAS.