title: Viral hepatitis in the Christchurch community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relative frequency of known causes of viral hepatitis in the Christchurch community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were collected at a private laboratory from patients aged 15-75 years who had an elevated transaminase of at least twice normal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and thirty-three subjects entered the study of whom 32 were positive for Epstein Barr virus, three for cytomegalovirus, nine for hepatitis A virus, and eight for hepatitis B virus. Paired convalescent samples were obtained from 64 of the remaining 81 subjects (17 lost or declined) and seven of these were positive for hepatitis C. Assuming a similar percentage in the lost/declined group this corrects to nine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relative frequency of viral agents causing hepatitis was Epstein Barr virus 52%, cytomegalovirus 5%, hepatitis A virus 15%, hepatitis B virus 13% and hepatitis C virus 15%. Hepatitis C virus is a common cause of viral hepatitis in the Christchurch community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Christchurch Hospital.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hann
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Schousboe
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Burt
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies