title: Hepatitis types B and non-B. Epidemiologic background.
abstract: Two episodes of acute viral hepatitis occurred in each of 34 patients. One episode in each patient was serologically diagnosable as type B hepatitis on the basis of tests for hepatitis B surface antigen or antibody. The other episode was classified as "non-B" on the basis of seronegativity, reinforced by seropositivity in an alternate bout. An epidemiologic background appropriate to "serum" hepatitis, either transfusion (one bout) or illicit self-injection (46 bouts), was associated just as frequently with serologically non-B episodes as with identified type B disease. The diagnosis of type B hepatitis, therefore, should be made only on the basis of serologic tests specific for hepatitis B virus infection. Other cases of sporadic diseases in adults must be labeled "viral hepatitis, type unspecifiable."
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D003932:Heroin