ABSTRACT
Viral hepatitis is hyperendemic in Ethiopia. Viral hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounted for 12% of medical admissions and 31% of all deaths in hospital in Addis Ababa. This chapter outlines the epidemiological and clinical aspects of each type of hepatitis virus infection based on studies conducted in Ethiopia and data from other parts of the world. The rare history of jaundice is in support of this view. Furthermore, later studies revealed that only 8% of sporadic acute viral hepatitis cases and none of epidemic acute viral hepatitis cases were due to Hepatitis A virus. Clinically, hepatitis B virus (HBV) accounted for 20% of 110 acute sporadic viral hepatitis cases seen at Tekur Anbessa Hospital, Addis Ababa. In 249 patients with chronic liver disease, the HBsAg carrier prevalence was 36% in chronic hepatitis, 29% in cirrhosis, and 23% in HCC, and the overall HBV marker prevalence was 86%, 82%, and 76%, respectively.
