Hepatitis A infection and occurrence of Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in a sample of Iraqi children

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis A is an important endemic disease in Iraq. And Insulin dependent diabetes is one of serious chronic disease that affect children.

Objective: To study the possible relationship between viral hepatitis A infection and occurrence of diabetes mellitus in Iraqi children.

Method: A case control study was done on hundred newly diagnosed diabetic children, who were compared to hundred control children.Serological test were done to both groups to detect antibodies against Hepatitis A by using ELISA method .This study started on 1^st of November 2006 and ended at 20^th of December 2008 Both groups were collected from Al-Kadhymia Teaching Hospital and Al-Noor General Hospital.

Result: There was slight increase incidence of diabetes mellitus in females (56%) than males (44%) and there was significant negative correlation between Hepatitis A and diabetes mellitus since 11% of diabetic children had positive serological test while 26% of control children had positive result.

Conclusion:there was no relationship between hepatitis A infection and occurrence of IDDM.

Keywords: Hepatitis A, diabetes mellitus, children.