الفهرس 
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Abstract
This study was conducted to:
1- Investigate the causes of acute viral hepatitis in adults living in EL-Minia, Upper Egypt, to determine the relative frequency of each serotype.
2- Assess the demographic factors, the risk factors, clinical and laboratory findings and their possible correlations with the etiologic agents.
3- Follow up of patients with acute hepatitis B, D, C and mixed infections with these viruses to determine the percentage of cases with abnormalities of liver function test and the serological changes after 6 months from the onset of acute hepatitis.
from this study we conclude that:
1- HBV infection represents the most common cause of acute hepatitis among adults living in EL-Minia. Diagnosis of acute hepatitis B relies on detection of HBc IgM inaddition to HBsAg.
2- HCV infection represents the second major cause of acute hepatitis. Early diagnosis relies on detection of HCV-RNA by PCR.
3- HEV infection is a common cause of acute sporadic hepatitis in our locality, easily diagnosed due to availability of specific and accurate kits.
4- HDV infection is not uncommon in our locality.
5- HAV infection represents the rarest agent to cause acute hepatitis among adults.
6- The cause (s) of 8.9% of acute presumed viral hepatitis remain unidentified, it seems that other viral agent (s) will be identified that cause acute liver injury.
7- There is no correlation between the hepatitis etiology and patient sex. Patients with acute hepatitis C are older than patients with other causes of acute hepatitis. Living in rural area is more likely to increase risk of exposure to HEV infection. Infection with hepatitis B and C are more common in married patients while HEV infection is more common in unmarried patients.
8- Blood transfusion, operations, and dental maneuvers are risk factors for HCV infection.
9- The clinical symptoms and signs and the liver function tests does not distinguish one cause of hepatitis from another.
10- 7.6% of patients with HBV infection are still HBsAg positive after 6 months from the onset of acute hepatitis.
11- 89% of patients with HCV infection are anti HCV IgG (ELІІSA-ІІІ) positive 6 months from the onset of acute attack, 50% of these patients still shows abnormalities of liver function tests.