Clinical, laboratory, and serological findings of adult Hungarian hospitalized acute hepatitis patients, and possible source of the infection.

Clinical, epidemiological features of acute viral hepatitis of 331 hospitalized adult patients were evaluated. HA, HB, HC, and non A-C H were diagnosed in 36.6%, 34.1%, 10.6%, and 18.7%, respectively. Age of HA cases was significantly lower than that of other cases. Only HA showed seasonal variation. Acquisition of HA was often associated with visits in endemic areas when compared with all other types, while HB, HC, and non A-C H were rather associated with iatrogenic events (blood transfusion, surgical procedures, and hospitalization). Symptoms of fever and diarrhea, and high ESR were more frequent in HA than in other types, while signs of weight loss and high levels of ALT, AST, and S.T.B, and decreased PT index were significantly more frequent in HB. Cholestasis course was found in 1.7%, 0.9%, and 3.2% of patients with HA, HB, and non A-C H, respectively. Fulminant course was found only in 0.9% of HB patients. Factors as sex and age had no effect on severity of acute phase in HA, HC, and non A-C H, while only the age of patients was inversely associated with severity of acute phase in H B.