Changing epidemiological characteristics of acute viral hepatitis in Greece

Abstract

We have studied the epidemiological characteristics of acute viral hepatitis (AVH) in adult patients admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital of Athens in 1980. Commercially available radioimmunoassays were used for the detection of the hepatitis B surface antigen, its antibody, the antibody to the core of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the IgG and IgM antibody to the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HBV was responsible for 59.9%, HAV for 20.4% and hepatitis non-A, non-B virus for the remaining 19.7% of the cases studied. The results show that the relative frequency of AVH type B has declined considerably in the last four years (from 80.6% to 59.9%). In contrast, AVH type A (from 10.8% to 20.4%) and non-A, non-B (from 8.6% to 19.7%) have increased substantially. The incidence of AVH type A declined rapidly with age; the incidence of type B was higher in the 20-29 year-old group, while non-A, non-B continued to occur in older people. Seasonal variation was not observed, except for a slight increase during the winter months. These changes in the epidemiological characteristics of AVH can be attributed to the improvements in socioeconomic, sanitary and hygienic conditions, as well as to the obligatory screening of blood donors for HBsAg and the increased awareness of medical and paramedical personnel regarding the risk of transmitting the disease iatrogenically.