title: Acute hepatitis B in a metropolitan population.
abstract: One hundred and fifty-three patients with acute hepatitis B infection over a four-year period have been reviewed. They were predominantly young males (60%) with a mild illness. There was no indication of the source of the infection in 56 patients (36%), while 52 patients (34%) had a history of intravenous narcotic abuse. Twenty-five patients were hospital staff members, while the remainder had known environmental associations with the hepatitis B virus. Eight of the 80 patients who were followed up for longer than six months had persistent hepatitis B surface antigenaemia, and evidence of progression to chronic hepatitis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens