"Hippie" hepatitis: an epidemiologic investigation conducted within a population of "street-people".
An epidemiologic investigation of viral hepatitis among "street-people" was conducted in Pittsburgh, PA in 1971. Among 146 individuals, 100 admitted to parenteral drug use and 73 (50%) had evidence of acute viral hepatitis. Counterelectrophoresis (CEP) and complement-fixation (CF) were used to test for type B antigen (HBS AG). Seventeen individuals (22%) had detectable HBSAG; 13 of these were clinically ill and admitted to drug use, Type B antibody (anti-HBS) was tested for by CEP and radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP). Thirty-five persons (29%), 15 of whom admitted to drug use and were ill, had detectable antibody by RIP; none had detectable antibody by CEP. None of those tested had both HBSAB and anti-HBS Evidence to support the hypothesis of sexual transmission of type B virus was found. Use of prophylactic gamma globulin in street-people populations is recommended.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012924:Social Conditions; D012925:Social Conformity; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D000637:Transaminases / Q000032:analysis
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D000637:Transaminases