Characteristics of Malaysian infants with biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis

Cholestatic disorders of infancy (viz neonatal hepatitis and biliary atresia) have not been well studied in Malaysia. In a retrospective study in the Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur from January 1982 through December 1991, a total of ninety-three infants with such conditions were identified: 35 (38%) had biliary atresia, 58 (62%) neonatal hepatitis. There was a statistically significant male preponderance in the neonatal hepatitis group (P = 0.020). There was no significant difference in the racial distribution and in the proportions of low birthweight infants between the two groups of disorders. When the biliary atresia group was compared with the neonatal hepatitis group, significant differences were observed in the age of presentation (mean +/- SD) 9.8 +/- 6.8 VS 20 +/- 17.3 weeks (P < 0.001), proportion of infants with prolonged jaundice (> seven weeks) 28/35 (80%) VS 20/58 (34.5%) (P < 0.00001), occurrence of alcoholic stools 26/35 (74.3%) VS 27/58 (46.6%) (P = 0.020), liver size (mean +/- SD): 4.3 (1.6 cm VS 3.3 +/- 1.8 cm (P < 0.01) and splenic size: 2.5 (1.8 cm VS 1.4 (1.2 cm (P < 0.001). There was however considerable overlap between the two groups in these features at presentation, making clinical differentiation between the two conditions difficult. Infants with cholestasis tended to present late, compromising the chance of survival. In order to improve the medical care of these patients, these conditions must be emphasised during the training of medical practitioners, and efforts to increase public awareness of these conditions must be created.