title: Imported epidemic non-A, non-B hepatitis in Qatar.
abstract: During one year, 198 patients were admitted to the Hamad General Hospital, Qatar, with acute viral hepatitis. Sera from 126 of these were tested for HBsAg, IgM anti-HBc, IgG anti-HAV, IgM anti-HAV, and delta antibody in those positive for HBsAg. Only 6% of the patients were Qatari nationals and the remainder were immigrants. Of the 126 patients tested, 7 had acute hepatitis A, 29 had acute hepatitis B (none were positive for delta antibody), and the remaining 91 were regarded as having had acute non-A, non-B hepatitis. Of this latter group, 75% were Indian immigrants of whom 59% presented within six weeks of arrival in Qatar and only 2 patients presented later than eight weeks. These patients were thought to have contracted the infection in transit camps in India before immigration to Qatar.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011780:Qatar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M