[Seroepidemiology of acute infectious hepatitis (author's transl)]

Abstract

Hbs-Ag, anti-Hbs, anti-Hbc and anti-HA were determined and the concentration of IgM measured in the sera of cases of acute infectious hepatitis which occurred in the Hannover area in 1975. Although there was a high degree of contamination with hepatitis A virus among the population, acute infectious hepatitis A was rare (n = 56). The hepatitis A virus is principally transmitted by contact with infection or while traveling in southern Europe. The greatest part of infectious hepatitis is due to hepatitis virus B (n = 211). Non-A, non-B hepatitis was less frequently observed (n = 62). A high percentage of patients with serum hepatitis and non-A, non-B hepatitis gave a history of parenteral exposure to possibly infectious material.