A retrospective analysis of data around viral hepatitis (A, B, C and E) by SRL Diagnostics — reveals that viral hepatitis is predominant in the age group of 16 to 30 years (49 per cent). As per the SRL data, the water-borne hepatitis E virus was found to be the most common (23 per cent) laboratory diagnosed viral hepatitis in India. This was followed by hepatitis A virus (19 per cent). A total of 3978 samples were selected and analysed wherein tests for all four hepatitis viruses were done in one person in one go.
The study highlighted that all four types of viral hepatitis are more common in younger age groups of between 16 and 30 years. The waterborne virus infections, hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections were particularly common in the young adult age group of 16-30 years followed by hepatitis E virus (HEV). HAV is the most common cause of acute hepatitis in paediatric age group (1–3 years). However, with the improvement in socioeconomic conditions and vaccination, early childhood exposure to HAV has decreased markedly. Hence, there has been a gradual shift in the age of acquiring the infection from childhood to adulthood.
Viral hepatitis is a cause for major health care burden in India. Despite as many as 400 million people being affected by the disease globally, hepatitis has largely been ignored. Amongst major cities, the most prevalent hepatitis in Delhi-NCR was hepatitis A (53 per cent).