A prospective study of hepatitis-e infection and it’s foetal and maternal outcome in pregnancy in mewar region of rajasthan

Aim: Hepatitis E. viruses (HEVs) are single stranded RNA viruses that cause large epidemics of acute viral hepatitis especially in developing countries and cause adverse maternal and foetal outcome. It affects males and females, both pregnant and non-pregnant. However, in pregnant females HEV infection is more severe often leading to fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) and death. Methods: This study is a prospective study conducted at Pannadhai Mahila Chikitsalaya, R.N.T. Medical College, Udaipur over a period of 3 years from January 2015 to December 2017 to find out the maternal and foetal outcome in HEV infected pregnant females. Results: A total of 60 symptomatic anti- HEV IgM positive patients were included in this study and their maternal and foetal outcomes were assessed. The maternal mortality was higher as compared to mortality due to other types of hepatitis. The mortality was 11.6%.Prematurity was 70%, IUD 15% and early neonatal deaths were 6.66%. Conclusion: The aim of the study is to make aware the tribal population about the diseases and to increase awareness of proper sanitation, food hygiene and safe drinking water. Variation in maternal morbidity and mortality between different studies need to subtype the viral genotype according to its virulence.