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BackgroundWhile some evidence has been demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of routine hepatitis A vaccination in middle-income countries, the evidence is still limited in other settings including in South Africa. Given this, the evidence base around the cost of care for hepatitis A needs to be developed towards considerations of introducing hepatitis A vaccines in the national immunisation schedule and guidelines.ObjectivesTo describe the severity, clinical outcomes, and cost of hepatitis A cases presenting to two tertiary healthcare centers in Cape Town, South Africa.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective folder review of patients presenting with hepatitis A at two tertiary level hospitals providing care for urban communities of metropolitan Cape Town, South Africa. Patients included in this folder review tested positive for hepatitis A immunoglobulin M between 1 January 2008 and 1 March 2018.ResultsIn total, 239 folders of hepatitis A paediatric patients ConclusionMore than 1 in every 10 hepatitis A cases (13.3%) included in this study developed complicated hepatitis A or resulted in death. Given the severity of clinical outcomes and high costs associated with hepatitis A hospitalisation, it is important to consider the introduction of hepatitis A immunisation in the public sector in South Africa to potentially avert future morbidity, mortality, and healthcare spending.

Original publication

DOI

10.1186/s12879-021-06993-w

Type

Journal

BMC infectious diseases

Publication Date

11/01/2022

Volume

22

Addresses

Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. pttjen005@myuct.ac.za.

Keywords

Humans, Hepatitis A, Vaccination, Retrospective Studies, Adolescent, Adult, Child, Cost-Benefit Analysis, South Africa