[Hepatitis as a travel disease]

Abstract

Every year over 50 million people travel from industrialized countries to areas with high prevalence of oral-fecal and sexually transmissible forms of viral hepatitis. The risk of infection with hepatitis A is associated with the standard of living, the length of stay, and the area of destination. Acute hepatitis E is predominantly transmitted in India and other Asian countries. The main risk factors for the acquisition of hepatitis B are sexual promiscuity and unprotected sexual intercourse. This report provides detailed information on the risk of hepatitis in travelers, available vaccination schedules, clinical and laboratory diagnostic features, and necessary therapeutic aspects in cases of ongoing acute viral hepatitis.